Adam Schiff warns Americans risk being captured and 'used as a political chip' in Iran, North Korea, Russia

11 December 2022

United States Representative Adam Schiff (D-California), the chair of the House Intelligence Committee, warned Americans who are considering traveling to rogue nations that they risk being kidnapped and held for political ransom by authoritarian regimes.

Schiff's cautionary advice on Sunday's edition of CBS' Face the Nation follows last week's prisoner exchange of convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout for Women's National Basketball Association star Brittney Griner that President Joe Biden negotiated with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The arrangement has sparked controversy – particularly among conservatives – who are upset that US Marine Paul Whelan is still in Russian custody.

Whelan was arrested in a Moscow hotel in 2018 on charges of espionage and in 2020 was sentenced to 16 years in a Russian prison. Efforts to have him released are ongoing.

CBS moderator Margaret Brennan noted to Schiff that "Vladimir Putin also did say that more swaps are possible, which of course raises hope for Paul Whelan. But as you just said, you believe this trade does incentivize hostage-taking. It puts a higher price on the head of your average American, and certainly an American celebrity as Brittney Griner was."

That prompted Schiff to remind Americans of the perils that await should they venture into unfriendly territory.

I think all Americans have to realize that whenever they go to places like Russia, or Iran, or North Korea, that they stand the chance of being grabbed for no reason at all, except to be used as a – as a political chip, and it ought to make all of us think long and hard before going to these places," Schiff said. "These are despotic regimes that have no – no view of the sanctity of human life or human rights and they will do whatever they need to do. And the Biden Administration is moving forward to try to sanction those that are involved in this kind of hostage-taking. But that only goes so far in the best of circumstances."

Watch below or at this link.

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