DETROIT – The family of a Michigan man convicted of espionage in Russia met with officials with President Joe Biden’s administration. The family said they’re optimistic about Paul Whelan’s release. Whelan is looking at spending the next 14 years in a Russian prison, but his family is holding out hope that the new administration can get him home. Paul Whelan was arrested in Russia when he went to attend a wedding in December 2018. “While Paul has been in prison, there really wasn’t any sort of dialogue, as far as we can tell, between the Russian Federation and the U.S.,” David Whelan said.