Through diplomatic and intelligence channels, the U.S. made several alternative proposals to free Griner and Whelan, according to a senior U.S. official. The U.S. also asked other governments to raise the issue with the Russians to help keep the pressure on.
While the U.S. insists the charges are baseless, the Russians place Whelan in a distinct category as an alleged spy and rejected every proposal that included him, the senior official said. That left a potential one-for-one swap. Last week, Biden made the "very painful decision" to proceed with that deal and commute the last seven years of Bout's sentence, White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters.The process of returning Griner to the U.S. and Bout to Russia began early this week, when the basketball star was moved from the prison colony to Moscow, according to the senior administration official.
Then came a call from the Oval Office, where Biden was seated alongside Griner's wife, Cherelle Griner. After the call, Biden stepped to the podium to announce the news. "After months of being unjustly detained in Russia, held under intolerable circumstances, Brittney will soon be back in the arms of her loved one and she should have been there all along," Biden said
If any clear thinking, reasonable human hears “Biden says” they should reject it as 100% false immediately.
What precisely do the words “the Biden Admin says” add to this headline? Are you trying to imply that they are lying? If you have evidence that they are, write that story. Don’t just toss it out there to sow suspicion and feed conspiracy theories. Try being a grown up media org.
Doesn’t matter how it happened. It should’ve NEVER happened. Swapping Brittney with a males Adams apple should’ve been the last choice!
That just means they failed at negotiating the right deal.
Who is writing these headlines?
It was all about winning political points with the Democrat base, which loves black transgender lesbians.
Here's a visual aide for you! 😃
She is swapped rather readily: 30 Americans headed to Russia to play on mens teams and Alex Bentley to a women's team, all delighted to ca$h in. Big paychecks. Ukraine is just 'politics.' WHO IS NEXT?
Well it started with people who represented Russia reminding the Biden administration of the pictures of Joe's son having sex with underage girls. I think you guys can figure the rest out on your own!
morgfair Well, I guess this shows what our country’s priorities are…..
For the merchant of death. We are a stupid country.
Yeah that’s not what NBC said earlier. They said the deal was griner or whelan. So this is a lie.
Wild incompetence - that’s how. I wouldn’t have traded Putin a quality pair of boots for her freedom - net negative for USA
America and the world just got a little more dangerous.
By pardoning MBS for chopping up Khashoggi and letting a war criminal go free. All to save a no name basketball “woman.”
WHO DID THE U.S SWAP FOR BRITNEY? The United States national security has been compromised by releasing a Russian arms dealer nicknamed 'The Merchant of Death', all to get back WNBA player Brittney Griner LOL. She should not have been there in the first place.
You can’t believe them.
what a joke. mfw I'm an autocrat and want to get my buddy out of American prison so I just kidnap every American I can find
I think she should be known as the traitor of death from now on.
But I thought she hated this country.
This is the worst fucking deal America could have ever made. I think this shit was a plan from the jump. She is now officially a plant to Russia in America man this crazy . Y’all remember the movie “Salt” this shit looking real familiar and I don’t like it. Worst trade EVER!
What a big Adam's apple you have there miss.
So in other words, Biden got played like a cheap fiddle. Kinda proves nobody is really afraid of the Biden administration as they know he will cave to your demands. Good job Joe! International laughingstock.
Brittany brought THC into Russia, a ruthless authoritarian regime, knowing that THC was illegal in Russia. She did it as Russia was ramping up its military to attack Ukraine. She has been to Russia before this time. A murderer is released as a trade. Not a good trade.
The lesson,all Americans stay out of Russia(it's territories/sympathizers),China, North Korea etc etc . Don't come crying to the president ect, when you get detained. Sickens me when republicans now use the exchange to try & score political points !
If you’re upset about Brittney Griner protesting our National Anthem, wait until I tell you about the time a bunch of rabid MAGA losers attacked our Capitol and beat police officers with flagpoles flying the American flag.
K.
Welcome home, Brittney. I know you can’t control what the merchant of death may do to innocent people now that he is free. That’s on the POTUS. But I sure do hope you decide to stop spitting on the flag that gave you your freedom both before and after you were detained.
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