Even so, the fact that the deal was a one-for-one swap was a surprise given that U.S. officials had for months expressed their determination to bring home both Griner and
“We didn’t want to lose the opportunity today to secure the release of one of them,” said Secretary of State Antony Blinken.but also disappointed for his family. He credited the White House with giving the Whelan family advance notice and said he did not fault officials for making the deal.“The Biden administration made the right decision to bring Ms. Griner home, and to make the deal that was possible, rather than waiting for one that wasn’t going to happen,” he said.
Bout was serving a 25-year sentence on charges that he conspired to sell tens of millions of dollars in weapons that U.S officials said were to be used against Americans. Biden issued an executive grant of clemency to free the arms dealer from a federal prison in Illinois to effect the prisoner swap.The deal drew criticism from some prominent Republicans, including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, his party’s nominee to become speaker once the GOP retakes control of the chamber in January.
Over the summer, the imprisonment of Americans produced the highest-level known contact between Washington and Moscow —in July that the U.S. had made a “substantial proposal” to Russia for Griner and Whelan. Though he did not specify the terms, people familiar with it said the U.S. had offered Bout.
International terrorist for a basketball player taking drugs - Vladimir won
It’s super sad that two civilized countries in the 21st century don’t have independent legal systems that is trusted by everyone, that eliminates this stone aged prisoners swap. , if we survived ourselves long enough future generations will be embarrassed of us.
Looks like a trade the Knicks would do.
After the execution of MohsenShekhari, yesterday for participating a peaceful protest, now it’s time for another innocent person AliMoazzami, 20, who’s been sentenced to death and is due to be executed tomorrow morning by the IRGC. Call out his name. MahsaAmini
So, we wonder how well Bout will do when he reports to the russian front under the conscription call up? Will he actually be given an arctic sleeping bag?
They didn't want anyone to see the Merchant of Death shaking hands with Britteny, which is weird. He should have thanked her for getting arrested for such a dumb crime.
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