WNBA star Brittney Griner released from Russian custody in a high-profile prisoner swap
Last edited Thu Dec 8, 2022, 12:57 PM - Edit history (1)
Source: NBC News
WASHINGTON — WNBA star Brittney Griner is free Thursday after the Biden administration negotiated her release from a Russian penal colony in exchange for an arms dealer, according to a senior administration official. President Joe Biden signed off on the trade, which took place in the United Arab Emirates, even though it meant leaving behind Paul Whelan, an American corporate security executive who remains jailed in Russia.
"She is safe, she is on a plane, she is on her way home," Biden said in remarks from the White House on Thursday morning. "She will soon be back in the arms of her loved ones and she should have been there all along." "I'm proud that today we have made one more family whole," Biden said, adding that he will continue to work to free Whelan. "We’ll keep negotiating for Paul’s relief. I guarantee it."
Brittney Griner’s wife, Cherelle Griner, was in the Oval Office with Biden and the two were able to speak with her by phone, according to a senior administration official. Cherelle Griner, speaking after Biden, expressed her "sincere gratitude" to Biden and several other officials she mentioned by name for their work. riner will be flown to a medical facility in San Antonio where she will receive care, a senior administration official said. Cherelle Griner, will meet her there, according to a senior administration official.
The move marks one of the most high-profile prisoner swaps between Moscow and Washington since the Cold War, with the Kremlin seeing the return of Viktor Bout, who Russian President Vladimir Putin has been wanting to get back — and who had served 11 years of a 25-year sentence in the United States.
Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/wnba-star-brittney-griner-released-russian-custody-high-profile-prison-rcna60683
Full headline: WNBA star Brittney Griner released from Russian custody in a high-profile prisoner swap between the U.S. and Moscow
Article updated.
Original article -
President Joe Biden signed off on the trade, which took place in the United Arab Emirates, even though it meant leaving behind Paul Whelan, an American corporate security executive who remains jailed in Russia.
The move marks one of the most high-profile prisoner swaps between Moscow and Washington since the Cold War, with the Kremlin seeing the return of Viktor Bout, who Russian President Vladimir Putin has been wanting to get back — and who had served 11 years of a 25-year sentence in the United States.
Griner’s return to the United States will cap a monthslong saga that began in February when she was detained at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport after Russian authorities said they found vape canisters with cannabis oil in her luggage. She was later jailed on drug charges.
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Chicago1980
(1,968 posts)
2naSalit
(102,778 posts)And... Thanks, Joe!
newdayneeded
(2,493 posts)Biden!
Paladin
(32,354 posts)A genuinely great president.
Botany
(77,315 posts)Quite negotiations by grown ups from team Biden.
"A White House official said President Biden was in the Oval Office Thursday morning on the phone, speaking with
Griner and her wife, and that Vice President Kamala Harris was also in the room."
Leadership!!!!
Welcome home Brittney Griner.
Traildogbob
(13,017 posts)I don’t wanna hear a damn work from the right about releasing a horrible arms dealer. America is one big damned arms dealer. 2nd amendment. NRA is the biggest damn arms dealer on the planet.
Welcome home Brittany.
Response to Traildogbob (Reply #5)
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The Grand Illuminist
(2,038 posts)It's another when it comes to mortars, missiles and rockets. I wanted her released as well, but this trade makes no sense and will look very bad in the long run.
Traildogbob
(13,017 posts)We are arms dealers of exactly the type you mention. We armed Iraq Pre Sadam, just to mention one. We had one option to free her. It was this or nothing. Read the statement the Whelan family sent to Fox News. He was sentenced while trump was in his second year. Tell me what trump did to free him. And trump gave Putin every damn thing he dreamed of. Still is.
I would like to trade our “spies” Tucker, Ron Johnson, Rand Paul, and all trumps for one prisoner they are holding as a spy.
GQP will certainly make it look bad, read Jr’s post this AM. A drug addled, Gay Black women for an arms dealer. You can bet that’s just the start.
Bravo Joe. And the Whelan family standing by the release. More work to do. Biden will not give Putin the kitchen sink for his presidency. Trump held all the cards to release most of those captive. Did nothing.
The Grand Illuminist
(2,038 posts)As I said on post 22, the Obama administration did everything to assure Bout extradition from Bangkok to the states and congress made sure it was top priority.
Traildogbob
(13,017 posts)It’s a tough decision. But the only option. I do not believe him being in our prison has stopped a single bullet from being sold to rogue regimes. His spot was filled instantly. I do not believe he will go and open a Missiles R-Us Store right away. We have BlackWaTer with Devos’ spawn arming insurgents world wide. And probably have sold RPG’s to Three Percenters and Oath Keepers and other American Terrorists groups. Dealing with world terrorist dictators is more of a give than take
To accomplish anything. Putin holds all the cards, as is obvious in his envision of Ukraine. We can not do what should be done or we risk world disaster. Sucks to be held hostage by him, but he has the power. I am glad she has been freed. I hope Biden keeps his promise to do same for all of them. We have so many Russian Operatives to give him, but I do not want to hear a word from Fox, Trump, or Jr about the trade. When GQP gave Putin our country and got bit one American released.
EX500rider
(12,581 posts)Iraq had entirely Soviet based weapons from AK-47's to T-72 tanks to MIGS, what weapons did we supply exactly?
ThunderRoad
(28 posts)You are right about that. It’s a common misperception that we armed Saddam. When the gulf war broke out Iraq’s military armaments were 97% acquired from Germany, Russia, China.
discntnt_irny_srcsm
(18,764 posts)I don't think we sold them. Now the taliban...that's another story. 
TexasBushwhacker
(21,202 posts)They were not willing to include Paul Whelan in the trade, at all. At least he's served half his sentence.
thesquanderer
(13,005 posts)And all these years later (14 years since his arrest), the network of contacts etc. he operated within may no longer even exist. Either way, I doubt there was anyone keeping his seat warm. Hopefully, at 55, he's looking for a quieter life now.
The Grand Illuminist
(2,038 posts)nt
Johnny2X2X
(24,203 posts)He's not a threat anymore. And he would have been released eventually with no trade. This is basically early parole for him after he's served 15 years.
tonekat
(2,528 posts)Did the U.S. play a major card for...a basketball player?
I know Americans live and die for sports but really? Call me cynical but this looks like pandering.
When Bout was sentenced, there was a lot of speculation he'd get life. He only got 25 years. Maybe we just didn't have all that much on him? Maybe he really isn't worth that much?
And, he predicted his release. He said he didn't know how, but he would get back to Russia when the US fell.
Javaman
(65,705 posts)russia needed bout and his connections to procure more arms to fill up their dwindling supplies.
womanofthehills
(10,988 posts)Said he was in bad health - probably why Biden was ok with it.
hamsterjill
(17,576 posts)But I can only imagine what Whelan’s family is going through.
babylonsister
(172,759 posts)
Anon-C
(3,440 posts) 
Marthe48
(23,174 posts)I'm tearing up. Such good news.
dlk
(13,247 posts)I’m proud of our president!
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)Arrested 4 years ago and sentenced to 14 years? And to consider the future victims of that famously dangerous criminal released back on humanity?
Russia kidnaps in order to extort prisoner exchanges or other concessions, and "confessions" are proof only that someone is in bad trouble. We do try to eventually bring our people home; but let's never forget that these prisoner exchanges involve serious costs that are borne by real people.
mountain grammy
(29,034 posts)he would have refused in favor of Griner? Because that's what this sounds like to me.
President Biden will get whoever he can out of there. Of this I am 100% certain. For now I'm thrilled that Griner is out. I'm also 100% sure he is still working on getting Whelan out.
TexasBushwhacker
(21,202 posts)They were unwilling to release Whelan at all. It was Griner for Bout or no trade at all.
mountain grammy
(29,034 posts)and maybe we shouldn't be, but we must take every victory we can.
Yes, I'm absolutely certain the President did what he could and I am one grateful American.
housecat
(3,138 posts)Hortensis
(58,785 posts)It's one thing to be glad for HER. We all are, including Whelan's octogenarian parents.
My thought isn't that Biden isn't doing what he should and can. The years of negotiations continue for 60yo Whelan. (And we're currently trying to get information on why he was hositalized last week and his condition. Last contact was Nov. 16.)
I'm talking about people like US, here on DU. What if Griner were an unknown, 60YO, straight, white woman? Whose parents, in their 80s, have been fearing for her health? Would she still get the same level and type of concern? From the same people?
Of course not. We're all real people too. But we do vote for and call for action on our concerns. Maybe now and then we should take a moment to examine them.
Alexander Of Assyria
(7,839 posts)
BumRushDaShow
(169,708 posts)Interesting how Ukraine ( "allegedly" ? ) successfully guided some kind of medium range drones right inside Russia and made mincemeat out of some bases. They certainly don't have hi-res satellites in geostationary (or otherwise) orbit to spot the needed locations, even with "special forces" who might be hiding in-country.
Ahem.
Alexander Of Assyria
(7,839 posts)just the weapons splashed across tv screens in the Public News!
mountain grammy
(29,034 posts)I have no doubt, absolutely no doubt, that Biden did what he could for all detained Americans. This was not a choice, one American or the other. They offered Griner, should Biiden have refused because he couldn't get others? Of course not!!!
Thank you President Biden for getting Brittany out. Hopefully more will follow.
oldsoftie
(13,538 posts)Expect more kidnappings from others now.
ShazzieB
(22,582 posts)In effect, that's what your comment implies, because that's the only other choice Biden could have made.
If you don't think Joe was well aware of every single issue involved when he made the decision to do this, you are dead wrong. He's aware of a hell of a lot that we can only guess at, because we don't have access to a fraction of the information he has at his fingertips.
Not every decision a president has to make is easy, simple, clear-cut, or straightforward. Joe Biden has demonstrated time and time again that he knows exactly what he's doing, and I trust his judgment, because he has earned my trust.
dem4decades
(14,054 posts)I think Russia made the better deal, sorry.
bearsfootball516
(6,711 posts)I can guarantee Russia and Putin didn't care if Bout came home or if he spent the rest of his life in jail. We were the ones actively trying to get Griner home. We were always going to have to give up something pretty big.
Alexander Of Assyria
(7,839 posts)The Grand Illuminist
(2,038 posts)This does not look good.
Paladin
(32,354 posts)
Guess we better start impeachment proceedings against Biden. Might as well, he's old.
(Sarcasm smilie included, because it's so obviously necessary on this thread.)
ellie
(6,975 posts)I was so worried about her!
The Grand Illuminist
(2,038 posts)With bipartisan congessional letter to Holder and Clinton to make it top priority. Not good.
BumRushDaShow
(169,708 posts)There are Obama admini people (including the former VP, now President) who know far more than we do about the behind the scenes.
The Grand Illuminist
(2,038 posts)But I can not help feeling like we swapped Brittney Griner for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.
BumRushDaShow
(169,708 posts)that if this paternalistic country paid professional women sports figures the same that they paid men, then these women wouldn't need to be traveling around the world playing for different countries in the WNBA off-season (which is what she was doing) to try to make up for a fraction of what men get for what is about 6 months of playing (if they even play at all and are just sitting on the bench most of the time).
Alexander Of Assyria
(7,839 posts)Can’t help feeling Russia must have conceded something else in this deal, something directly related to the war?
ShazzieB
(22,582 posts)I'm sure he's well aware of everything that went into that. He knows stuff we can only guess at. He made a tough decision here, which is what he gets paid to do. I trust his judgment.
LetMyPeopleVote
(179,822 posts)honest.abe
(9,238 posts)and President Biden.
underpants
(196,489 posts)That’s my take.
BumRushDaShow
(169,708 posts)(carrot and stick stuff going on big time)
Alexander Of Assyria
(7,839 posts)
ancianita
(43,307 posts)Same reason we aren't privy to lots of behind the scenes stuff -- some of which is good secrecy, and some of which is bad secrecy. We can't give our advise & consent to things that are fluid in the big world's foreign arena. I'm glad we've got a rule of law democratic system with quality leaders to handle such things.
There are some things "we" aren't meant to know and don't need to know. This is one of them.
Expecting complete transparency in every single thing the government does is wildly unrealistic, especially when it comes to things like high level negotiations with world leaders.
Amen to this. I am SO glad we have someone as knowledgeable, wise, seasoned, experienced, and trustworthy as Joe Biden in the driver's seat!
Alexander Of Assyria
(7,839 posts)ripcord
(5,553 posts)I have said from the beginning that Griner would be freed and Whelan would be left behind again. Griner has been the focus of the prisoner swap from the beginning while Whelan was an afterthought even though he has been in a labor camp for 4 years and is currently hospitalized there.
electric_blue68
(26,856 posts)I hope the other person will be freed at some point, too.
sarisataka
(22,694 posts)But I won't call this a victory
IronLionZion
(51,267 posts)and I'm loving it 
Javaman
(65,705 posts)the movie, "lord of war" is loosely based on him.
pooty wants him back to broker arms deals for russia. his failed war in Ukraine is using up munitions at a high rate. he needs bout to find him some more bombs and drones.
Johnny2X2X
(24,203 posts)How much help is he really going to be now?
And he was selling stolen Russian weapons to groups around the world. Russia might end up executing him.
womanofthehills
(10,988 posts)Marina Butina interviewed Viktor Bout a few days ago on RT- it's on Rumble. Weird interview.
BumRushDaShow
(169,708 posts)The U.S. (and its allies in the EU), Russia itself (and all its auxiliaries like Iran, Syria, and Cuba), China, and then possibly Israel.
And right now China is sitting there patiently waiting for Russia to collapse itself so they can take over (once they deal with their pesky zero-COVID thing - which is suddenly happening).
Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(135,693 posts)The White House on Thursday disclosed additional details about how President Joe Biden and administration officials were able to secure WNBA star Brittney Griner's release and return from Russia.
White House spokesperson John Kirby told reporters that the deal "really came to fruition in the last week or so."
-snip-
But the deal was the product of months and months of a painstaking negotiation effort from across the U.S. government, including officials at the highest levels engaging directly with Russia.
Here's the inside story of how it happened:
-more-
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/brittney-griner-release-how-the-white-house-says-it-happened/ar-AA1543xw
whistler162
(11,155 posts)ShazzieB
(22,582 posts)None of us does, because we don't have access to a fraction of the information we would need to be able to make that determination.
Biden weighed the vast amount of information that is available to him and used his own very astute judgment to make an extremely tough choice. After watching him in action these last 2 years, I trust his judgment and because I am aware that he knows a fuck ton of stuff that I don't know.
Response to BumRushDaShow (Original post)
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