WASHINGTON D.C. (Michigan News Source) – Paul Whelan, a former U.S. Marine from Novi, Michigan, spent 2,043 days wrongfully imprisoned in Russia on espionage charges that he and the United States government have consistently refuted.

Michigan News Source has been closely following Whelan’s journey. Now that he’s finally free, we wanted to follow-up and see how he’s been adjusting since returning to American soil and how he’s rebuilding the life he lost during nearly six years of captivity.

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Released in a major prisoner swap on August 1, 2024 which also resulted in the freedom of Wall Street Reporter Evan Gershkovich and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, Whelan’s resiliency, learned from his parents who endured WWII in England, was his lifeline, he said recently when making his first public remarks since being released from the Russian prison.

Gratitude and grit: Whelan thanks lawmakers for the bipartisan push that brought him home.

On Tuesday, September 17th, outside the U.S. Capitol, Whelan briefly spoke with reporters, marking just over six weeks since his return to the U.S. following a massive multi-country prisoner swap. He spent Tuesday and Wednesday meeting with lawmakers, seizing the opportunity to personally thank many of them for their efforts in advocating for his freedom.

Whelan said, “There was a bipartisan effort that brought me home – congressmen, congresswomen, senators from both parties, from every state – were involved in this effort to get me back, and I’d like to say thank you to them, as well as all the people that work for agencies that I will never meet, people that I will never know.”

He went on to say, “I want to get that that out publicly, so that they know how appreciative I am, how appreciative my parents, my family are. You know, it was five years, seven months and five days. I counted each one of them. The last five days I was in solitary confinement. I couldn’t leave my cell, but I made it home.”

After his return to the United States, Whelan spent about 19 days in San Antonio at a specialized program at Brooke Army Medical Center and Fort Sam Houston, where he received medical care and support designed to help Americans reintegrate into society after extended isolation.

A new battle: rebuilding his life.

Whelan has returned to a vastly different world. While he’s grateful for his freedom, he’s left without a home, job, or savings. In Washington, D.C., he met with lawmakers to discuss how future detainees can receive better support upon their return.

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Legislation has been introduced to help detainees like Whelan, including protecting Social Security benefits and waiving penalties for missed tax payments.

U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, (D-Birmingham), who has long advocated for his return said, “We’re very focused on the aftermath. There’s absolutely more to do in terms of not just the readjustment but justice and making this right.”

As Whelan reintegrates, he’s also relying on the kindness of fellow Americans, with a GoFundMe set up to help him restart his life.

The fundraising site says, “All donations will be used to off-set the costs to rebuild and restart his life. Paul has immediate needs and we are looking for support to help him until he can get to a place where he is, once again, entirely self-sufficient. He needs help to cover expenses for housing, a car, medical, dental, and optical care.To seek employment, he needs a phone, computer, wardrobe and a host of other personal items.Your gifts will allow him to get a fresh start.”

Looking forward.

The road ahead for Whelan remains difficult, but his resolve is unwavering and so is his concern and advocacy for those facing a plight similar to his. “We’re coming for you,” Whelan said, directing a message to Americans still wrongfully detained abroad. It appears that his fight for justice isn’t over – it’s only just begun.