President Joe Biden attended the annual Washington dinner, a century-old tradition that drew more than 2,000 attendees including members of the media, administration officials, and celebrities. During the gathering, he called for the release of jailed Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich in Russia.
Mr. Biden met privately with Mr. Gerskovich’s family who attended the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner as Journal guests and recognized them again in his remarks. The State Department has designated him as “wrongfully detained” and launched a broad effort to pressure Russia to free him.
The Biden administration on Thursday imposed sanctions on leading security services in Russia and Iran for what it said was a pattern of wrongfully detaining Americans in an effort to use them for political leverage. Other attendees included Debra Tice, mother of freelance American journalist Austin Tice; Paul Whelan; and Brittney Griner who attended with her wife Cherelle.
Joe Biden praised the "absolute courage" of detained journalist Evan Gershkovich – the first correspondent since the cold war to be detained in Russia on spying charges – and reiterated calls on Moscow for his immediate release.
Biden addressed the parents of Gerskovich at an annual dinner for White House correspondents on Saturday night and said American efforts to get him home would not cease:
He also had warm words for Brittney Griner who had been detained for nearly 10 months on drug-related charges:
As tensions between U.S., Russia, and Iran continue to grow, the Biden administration remains committed to fighting for the release of wrongfully detained Americans and ensuring their safe return home.