Celebrates release of prisoners

Harris celebrates release of prisoners, including Paul Whelan and Evan Gershkovich

From CNN's Sam Fossum

Vice President Kamala Harris praised the multinational prisoner swap with Russia, saying it gives her “great comfort” to know the released prisoners will soon be reunited with their loved ones.

Four American citizens or residents were released as part of the complex prisoner exchange between Russia, the US and other Western nations: Wall Street reporter Evan Gershkovich, former US Marine Paul Whelan, Russian American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva and Russian opposition politician and human rights defender Vladimir Kara-Murza.

“Today, we celebrate the release of Paul, Evan, Alsu, Vladimir, and others who were unjustly held in Russia. It gives me great comfort to know that their horrible ordeal is over and that they will soon be reunited with their families. @POTUS and I will not stop working until every American who is wrongfully detained or held hostage is brought home,” she wrote in a social media post.

Harris is in Houston today to deliver the eulogy at a service for Texas Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee.