Former governor to travel to Moscow for talks on freeing Brittney Griner: Source

[MissMillie]

Source: ABC News via MSN

Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson is planning to travel to Russia in the near future for talks aimed at finding a deal to free the detained WNBA star Brittney Griner, a source with knowledge of the proposed trip told ABC News.

Richardson, who also served as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and energy secretary in the Clinton administration, played a role in achieving a prisoner exchange in April that saw Russia release former U.S. Marine Trevor Reed after nearly two and a half years in captivity.

He is expected to go to Moscow in the next couple of weeks, according to the source, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/bill-richardson-to-seek-brittney-griner-s-release-in-moscow-source/ar-AAZp0l5?li=BB141NW3

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Back when President Obama was picking a cabinet, I suggested (here at DU) Richardson as a Secretary of State. Someone got all huffy at me thinking he wasn't qualified. I don't remember who it was, but they apparently were unaware of Richardson's negotiation skills and experience (especially in the Dayton Accord).

I liked Richardson even way back then. I'll admit that in 2008, he was my first pick.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

1. Governor Bill Richards is a great negotiator

Link to tweet

[LisaM]

2. I like him, too, and he's the right choice for this.

My biggest beef with him was that he though we should divert Great Lakes water to New Mexico, but that was in 2007 and this is a different issue anyway.

[ripcord]

3. Once again no mention of Paul Whelan

Richardson will probably leave him in the labor camp again.

[Mr.Bill]

5. I don't think that's a can of worms

any republican wants to open up.

[murielm99]

6. I heard Richardson speak several years ago.

He was the featured speaker at the Illinois Democratic Chairperson's Association convention. He explained the Canadian health care system - how it works, how it came into existence.

[AllTooEasy]

7. What will he offer?

A Russian gangster tied to opioid distribution, child sex trafficking, etc.?

A Russian spy who tried to undermine or successfully undermined our national security?

A cybersecurity terrorist, who will immediately attack us again with Putin's backing?

Dropping of sanctions that resulted from Putin's invasion of Ukraine?

Commitments to stop supplying Ukraine with weapons?

Vetoing Finland's and Sweden's applications to NATO?

Kissing Putin's ass while draped in the US flag?

[rpannier]

8. The Merchant of Death, Victor Bout

That's who I've seen mentioned in several places as to whom the Russians want

[ancianita]

14. He's exactly who we DON'T want to trade or we would have by now and wouldn't have

Richardson going at this point.

[AZLD4Candidate]

10. Wendell Brown was railroaded into a Chinese prison after defending himself

in a bar in Chongqing from six Chinese men that didn't like a black man drinking with a Chinese woman. Next to little was done to get him out until the Chinese government released him.

It bothers me how much celebrity matters in the world. What she is going through is absolutely terrible, but I doubt we'd hear anything about it if she wasn't in the WNBA, just like Wendell Brown.

[PoliticAverse]

12. Yes, Russian captive Paul Whelan's family is feeling left out...

https://www.thedailybeast.com/paul-whelans-family-crushed-over-bidens-call-to-brittney-griners-wife

[JudyM]

11. Locking

We received an alert on this post for not being LBN-level important because it is announcing a scheduled event in the future, rather than important breaking news that has happened. When it happens, hopefully there will be major news to report. Would be good to repost in GD if you’re up for it.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

13. I wanted him to be prez too! So intelligent and articulate. nt