Trevor Reed, the former US Marine freed from Russian prison earlier this year, says President Joe Biden is not doing enough to secure the release of other Americans being detained in Russia, including basketball star Brittney Griner.

In an NBC interview airing Tuesday, Reed shared his frustrations over the inaction in the cases of Griner, who was arrested by Russian authorities earlier this year, and corporate executive Paul Whelan, who has been detained since 2018.

‘I can’t say 100% what the White House is or is not doing — that’s obviously not public information,’ Reed says in the preview of the interview. ‘But, in my opinion, the White House has the ability to get them out extremely fast, and they clearly have chosen not to do that. So no, in my opinion, they’re not doing enough.’

Reed, who was released during a prisoner exchange earlier this year after spending two years behind bars, has denied the assault allegations that landed him in prison.

Despite his disappointment in the Biden Administration’s response to the two Americans being held overseas, Reed says he’s thankful for Biden’s efforts that brought him home.

‘I think that that was the ethical decision, and I think that they did the right thing,’ Reed said of Biden’s decision to make the prisoner swap.

‘He ultimately makes that decision — that decision has to come from the top. And, you know, I’m grateful for that. And I appreciate that. But I think that, you know, he has the responsibility to continue doing the right thing,’ he added.

Reed’s comments come as Griner appeared in court Tuesday, where her legal team argued the vape canisters containing cannabis oil found in her luggage were prescribed to her as medicine.

Griner has admitted to carrying the vape canisters. While cannabis is illegal in Russia, her team has argued she had no criminal intent, and that they ended up in her bag inadvertently because she had been in a rush while packing.

‘We are not arguing that Brittney took it here as a medicine. We are still saying she involuntarily brought it here because she was in a rush,’ her defense attorney Alexander Boykov said.

‘The Russian public has to know, and the Russian court in the first place has to know, that it was not used for recreational purposes in the United States. It was prescribed by a doctor,’ he added.

Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist who plays for the Women’s National Basketball Association’s Phoenix Mercury, could spend up to 10 years in Russian prison if she’s convicted.

The slow-moving trial and Griner’s five-months of detention thus far have sparked criticism in the US, and prompted Biden to declare her as ‘wrongfully detained.’

From behind bars in the courtroom, Griner could be seen Tuesday holding a plastic folder with photos of her wife and some friends.

Griner was pictured Tuesday behind bars holding a plastic folder containing photos of her wife, as well as some photos with friends.

The basketball star was able to share a message with her wife, Cherelle, who recently completed law school and is scheduled to take her exams this week.

‘Good luck on the bar exam,’ Griner told her wife through a producer with ABC.

The producer then asked Griner if she has any complaints, to which she said: ‘No, no complaints. Just patiently waiting.’

Griner is expected to testify Wednesday.

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