Biden’s national security advisor chokes back tears up as he celebrates release of American prisoners held in Russia and reveals details of the swap [Video]

18:30 EDT 01 Aug 2024, updated 01:13 EDT 02 Aug 2024

White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan got emotional and choked up during the daily briefing Thursday while describing the effort to bring home American prisoners from Russia in a swap. 

‘Today – excuse me – today was a very good day,’ Sullivan told reporters, as he celebrated the moment but also contemplated the work that went into the elaborate exchange and the suffering of the prisoners and their families.

He called it the result of a ‘a monumental level of effort’ by an array of staff, and revealed details of talks that stretched on for months and had President Biden making a key phone call even on the day he decided to end his bid to retain the White House.

Sullivan and his team have been involved in the effort since the start of the administration – Biden said the effort began even before he took office. That …