After 10 months of uncertainty, WNBA champion Brittney Griner has been released from a Russian prison in a 1-for-1 prisoner swap. According to CBS News, a deal to exchange the basketball star for convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout was made on Dec. 1. The swap took place on Thursday in the United Arab Emirates. Once she was back in US custody, Griner spoke to her wife Cherelle and President Biden on the phone.
Back in July, Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed that the U.S. made a “substantial offer” to Russia, but didn’t give details on what exactly was discussed. Rumors swirled that the deal was to swap Brittney and former Marine Paul Whelan for Bout. Since this has been the assumption that everyone has been working under, there are questions and criticisms about why Whelan was not included in the swap. During a press conference at the White House, President Biden explained that for unknown reasons Russia is treating his case differently. Read more at www.theroot.com
