Why wasn't Paul Whelan freed?
A high-profile prisoner swap between the U.S. and Russia has led to the release of WNBA superstar Brittney Griner.
The announcement is a win for the Biden administration at a time when Russian aggression has endangered millions of lives.
But it came at a heavy price: the release of convicted international arms dealer Viktor Bout — and left a former Marine behind, despite the White House's promise.
The Detroit Free Press explains:
Biden's authorization to release a Russian felon once nicknamed “the Merchant of Death” underscored the escalating pressure that his administration faced to get Griner home, particularly after the recent resolution of her criminal case and her subsequent transfer to a penal colony.
The swap was confirmed by U.S. officials with direct knowledge of the negotiations who were not authorized to publicly discuss the deal before a White House announcement and spoke on condition of anonymity. Biden spoke with Griner on the phone Thursday while her wife, Cherelle, was in the Oval Office. The president was to address reporters later in the morning.
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 Paul Whelan, a Michigan corporate security executive jailed in Russia since December 2018 on espionage charges that his family and the U.S. government has said are baseless.
Whelan continues to serve his 16-year prison sentence in Russia.
In releasing Bout, the U.S. freed a former Soviet Army lieutenant colonel whom the Justice Department once described as one of the world's most prolific arms dealers. Bout, whose exploits inspired a Hollywood movie, 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.
Griner was recently convicted of “drug smuggling” after being caught with vape cartridges containing less than one gram of cannabis (CBD) oil inside her luggage at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport. Griner traveled to Russia to play basketball for the Russian Premier League during the WNBA's offseason.
Griner, who plays for the Phoenix Mercury, said she didn't know the cartridges were with her. CBD oil is legal in Arizona.
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The merchant of death is released for an America hating high profile elite who it seems she believes she can do anything she wants in any country bc of who she is. She should be punished under our laws for her arrogance. But she will be celebrated and be called a hero If she learns a lesson and to appreciate the US , then good for her. Time will tell
What a mistake, you never trade, now every knows. Kidnap Americans and the government will trade. Very bad policy. Biden once again shows he is compromised. He must be impeached for everything he has done reversing Trumps outstanding management of our country. Now every American must watch for kidnappers where ever they go. Biden made it profitable, what dumb thing to do.
This boils my blood!!!
This only certifies what a weak mouse Biden is , by not including Paul Whelan in the swap.
I’m sorry, but how is this an undeniable win for the Biden administration?
This is the typical protect the criminal f the people who should be protected.
Sit down with this person Griner and have heart to heart discussion for her future, since she doesn’t care and at the expense of WE THE PEOPLE, to be a RESPONSIBLE ADULT PROFESSIONAL WHEN TRAVELING ABROAD and saving her highfaluten life style at home with her friends!!!!!
What a scumbag pedo Joe is. He only did this for optics.
He wants the black vote back. He is such a loser.
Haven’t you heard of Black Privilege? Or Gay Privilege? Or Homosexual Privilege? Or Woke Privilege? A White Ex-Marine rots in a Russian jail and we trade an international criminal for an America-hating radical. “Better Optics”?
You are 1000% correct. My stomach turns over this. What has become of our once beautiful country.
What a lousy trade. Leave a Marine veteran, and take a drug queen, in exchange for an arms dealer. Another Biden failure on the international front.
FREE the Marine vs Brittany
This is BS. Biden did this to placate the Blacks in Congress & the Senate. There is no reason to trade a horrific terrorist for a black basketball player. What about the U.S. employee that did not merit a 15 year prison term by the Russians.
Another humiliating day for Americans. A United States Marine sits in a prison for a crime he did not commit while an anti-American basketball player will be celebrating with her family tonight. Another shameful decision from the Biden administration. Joe will be patting himself on the back for this wonderful accomplishment. I call it yet another failure.
I caught it on TV where Biden brought out Brittney’s wife to speak.
Disgusting.