The desperate parents of Trevor Reed, a former U.S. Marine who's been locked behind bars in Russia for more than a year, are asking the Biden administration for help freeing their son.
Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R.-Calif., joined Reed’s family in a Wednesday press conference where they demanded additional assistance from the Biden administration to get Reed home, The Washington Free Beacon reported.
Reed, a Texas native, was sentenced to nine years in a Russian prison after being convicted of assaulting a police officer in 2019.
But he and his legal team contend he did not commit the crime and was given a "show trial."
Now, Reed’s father, Joey, fears increasing tensions between the U.S. and Russia will prolong his son's torment. He's worried Trevor has become collateral damage as U.S.-Russia relations deteriorate, The Dallas Morning News reported.
President Joe Biden, in an interview with ABC News that aired Wednesday, further heightened tensions between the nations when he called Russian President Vladimir Putin a killer.
The president's description of the Russian leader came after his administration's release of an intelligence report alleging foreign meddling in the 2020 election. The report concluded Putin oversaw efforts aimed at "denigrating" Biden’s candidacy.
"He will pay a price," Biden said in the interview.
Asked when the consequences would come, Biden said, "You'll see shortly.”
Joey Reed said the rhetoric between the two nations has him worried.
"We’re concerned about the heightened rhetoric," he said. "We’re fearful that this will affect our son in the long term, and we just want to get him home before our two countries get more angry with each other. Our peoples are not the enemies; the Russian people are not our enemy."
Trevor Reed has spent most of his imprisonment in a medium-security prison in Moscow, according to the Free Beacon. But the news outlet noted Russian agents recently moved him to a maximum-security facility.
His parents maintain he was left in a small cell for three days with "deranged people," including known murderers.
"It has been a really long, hard time without him," said Paula Reed, Trevor's mother. "It’s not something I’d wish on anyone else."
Sen. John Cornyn, R.-Texas, told the Free Beacon that such mismanagement comes from Russia's closed judicial system and authoritarian nature.
"If Russia wants to be viewed as an enlightened government, I think it needs to up its game and correct these deficiencies when it comes to these show trials against American citizens," Cornyn said.
The Reeds told the Free Beacon their son has suffered from mistreatment while in prison, saying that Russian authorities delayed medical examinations and would not provide food or water for days on end.
"He's had some medical issues," Joey Reed said. "The embassy has had to fight to get him any kind of treatment. If you need a Motrin it will take you a week for them to get it. It has been a very difficult year and a half."
Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, worked with Pfluger on a resolution calling for the immediate release of Trevor Reed.
"Trevor’s wrongful imprisonment in Russia has gone on far too long," McCall said. "I have met with Trevor’s family and know that he is a great American and former Marine who served his country proudly. I strongly urge the Biden administration to use all the tools available to bring Trevor home to his family as soon as possible."
Jeffrey Rodack ✉
Jeffrey Rodack, who has nearly a half century in news as a senior editor and city editor for national and local publications, has covered politics for Newsmax for nearly seven years.
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.