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Brittney Griner has landed back on US soil for the first time in 10 months after she was released from Russian custody in a prisoner swap with “Merchant of Death” Viktor Bout. The WNBA star arrived at the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio early on Friday morning, where she will be examined and receive any necessary medical treatment. Footage showed Ms Griner and Bout being exchanged on the tarmac of a runway in the UAE on Thursday, following weeks of negotiations between Washington and Moscow. The deal failed to include US Marine Paul Whelan who has been detained in Russia for the last four years. Mr Whelan told CNN he was “greatly disappointed” to learn he was not part of the prisoner swap, saying: “I don’t understand why I’m still sitting here.” President Joe Biden insisted on Thursday that “we’ve not forgotten about Paul Whelan” and vowed to “never give up” securing his release, as the swap divided opinion across the country. The White House was also forced to deny claims made by Saudi Arabia and the UAE that MBS negotiated the deal.
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Pentagon admits concern that Viktor Bout will return to dealing arms
The Pentagon has admitted that US officials are concerned Viktor Bout will return to dealing arms following his release on Thursday. A senior Defense Department official told Politico that the Biden administration is fearful that Bout could return to his past of illegally trafficking weapons – something that could pose a danger to America. “I think there is a concern that [he] would return to doing the same kind of work that he’s done in the past,” the anonymous official said. Bout is a notorous arms dealer who earned the nickname the “Merchant of Death”. At the time of his release on Thursday, he was in the middle of a 25-year sentence in a US prison on multiple charges including conspiring to kill Americans. Rachel Sharp9 December 2022 23:00 1670623237
Brittney Griner’s family thanks President Joe Biden for her release from Russian custody
Brittney Griner’s family has relased a statement thanking President Joe Biden for her release from Russian custody. “We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to President Biden and his administration for the tireless work they did to bring Brittney home,” it reads. “We would also like to extend a special thank you to Governor Richardson and Mickey Bergman of the Richardson Center for their work, as well as remaining in constant communication with us.” The family went on to thank Paul Whelan and his family for their support as they hope that he too will be released soon. “We sincerely thank you all for the kind words, thoughts and prayers — including Paul and the Whelan family who have been generous with their support for Brittney and our family during what we know is a heartbreaking time. We pray for Paul and for the swift and safe return of all wrongfully-detained Americans,” the statement read. “We ask that you respect our privacy as we embark on this road to healing. The Griner Family” Rachel Sharp9 December 2022 22:00 1670621492
Russian state media touts prisoner swap as ‘tremendous victory’ over the US
Russian state media portrayed a prisoner swap with the US that resulted in the release of both former WNBA star Brittney Griner and arms dealer Viktor Bout as a “tremendous victory” in broadcasts. “I have to say that we have achieved a tremendous victory today. I don’t even think we have the full understanding of how big it is,” Russian state media personality Vladimir Soloviev said during a broadcast of his daily show. “The Russian intelligence agencies, alongside the Foreign Ministry, have carried out a stunning operation and brought home a man who did not plead guilty once, who was wrongly convicted and slandered but did not betray his homeland.” Graig Graziosi9 December 2022 21:31 1670619637
Russian spy who infiltrated US conservative groups gloats over release of Viktor Bout
Marina Butina, a Russian spy who was captured by US agents and later released, gloated on social media over the release of Viktor Bout, the “Merchant of Death” arms dealer who was traded in exchange for the release of former WNBA star Brittney Griner. “The fact that Russia pushed through the exchange of (Viktor) Bout, whom America fundamentally did not want to give away for many years, right now means that, like in The Godfather, we ‘made them an offer that cannot be refused,’” Ms Butina said on the Telegram message app on Thursday. “This is a position of strength, comrades.” Ms Butina spent years infiltrating right-wing groups, including the National Rifle Association, before she was caught and imprisoned. She was released from prison in 2019 by the Trump administration and returned to Moscow. She is now a politician. Graig Graziosi9 December 2022 21:00 1670618737
Congressman Troy Nehls says Trump would have Paul Whelan home “in a week” despite the former president failing to secure his release
Congressman Troy Nehls told Newsmax that former President Donald Trump would have Paul Whelan home “in a week” despite the former president failing to secure his release during his tenure. During an appearance on Newsmax, Mr Nehls said Joe Biden should call Mr Trump and ask him to negotiate for Mr Whelan’s release. “You want to get Paul Whelan home, Joe Biden, why don’t you call Donald Trump. Donald Trump would negotiate; he’d get Paul Whelan home and he’d have him home in a week,” the congressman said. Mr Whelan was detained and convicted during Mr Trump’s presidency, and Mr Trump failed to secure the man’s release. Russia offered the Trump administration a trade for Mr Whelan, but Trump officials declined the offer. Graig Graziosi9 December 2022 20:45 1670617244
US National Security Spokesman says officials still working to secure Paul Whelan’s release
US National Security Spokesman John Kirby told reporters Friday that officials were continuing to work on securing the release of Paul Whelan, and American man who was detained in Russia in 2018 on espionage charges. Mr Whelan became a topic of discussion after the release of former WNBA star Brittney Griner from Russian custody. Largely conservative critics of the prisoner swap that freed both Griner and notorious arms dealer Viktor Bout complained that Mr Whelan was not included in the deal. “We’re going to be actively working through [Moscow] channels to try to bring Paul home,” Mr Kirby told reporters. According to White House officials, negotiators did attempt to include Mr Whelan in the swap, but Moscow rejected the offer. Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that future prisoner swaps are “possible,” but Mr Kirby said that “actions, not words” are what matters. “We registered what Mr. Putin said, let’s see what he actually does,” Mr Kirby said. Graig Graziosi9 December 2022 20:20 1670615529
White House press secretary says Brittney Griner reunited with wife, appears to be in good health
Former WNBA star Brittney Griner has been reunited with her wife, Cherelle, according to White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. Griner returned to the US on Friday after she was released from Russian custody thanks to a prisoner swap negotiated by US officials. International arms dealer Viktor Bout was released from US custody in the trade. Ms Jean-Pierre said Griner was in “very good spirits” upon her return, and appeared “to be in good health.” Graig Graziosi9 December 2022 19:52 1670614303
Brittney Griner cut her hair while locked up in Russia because her locks were freezing
Former WNBA star Brittney Griner, who was released from Russian custody this week thanks to a prisoner swap deal the US made the Russia, reportedly cut her hair short while imprisoned because it was freezing on her head. Maria Blagovolina, one of Griner’s attorneys, told ESPN that Griner cut her hair approximately two weeks ago after it began freezing due to the cold Russian winter. “It’s very cold in there and every time she washed her hair she got cold and would get a chill,” Ms Blagovolina said. “She should have waited until New Year’s Day.” Graig Graziosi9 December 2022 19:31 1670612626
Russians did not negotiate ‘in good faith’ for Paul Whelan, White House press secretary says
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Friday that Russia was not willing to engage in “good faith” negotiations to free Paul Whelan, an American man who has been imprisoned in the country since 2018. US officials attempted to include Mr Whelan in a prisoner swap deal they made to free former WNBA star Brittney Griner, but a deal could not be reached. “In the past week or two, we saw that the Russians were willing to release Brittney Griner for Mr Bout. That’s what was presented to us. They were not willing to negotiate in good faith for Paul Whelan.” Graig Graziosi9 December 2022 19:03 1670611562
Russia offered up Paul Whelan as part of Brittney Griner trade, but asked for spy serving life sentence for murder
US officials speaking with CNN told the outlet that Russia did offer Paul Whelan as part of the prisoner swap deal that freed former WNBA star Brittney Griner, but only if a Russian spy serving a life sentence in Germany for murder was released along with the “Merchant of Death” Viktor Bout. The US inquired with Germany about potentially releasing Vadim Krasikov, the Russian spy who was convicted for murder. The US was unable to negotiate for the Russian’s release. However, according to officials, the US did offer up other imprisoned Russians in an effort to free Mr Whelan, but those offers were rejected by Russia. Graig Graziosi9 December 2022 18:46
