Joe Biden makes statement after Brittney Griner released in prisoner swap with Russia
Russia freed WNBA star Brittney Griner on Thursday in a dramatic high-level prisoner exchange, with the U.S. releasing notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, American officials said. The swap, at a time of heightened tensions over Ukraine, achieved a top goal for President Joe Biden, but carried a heavy price — and left behind an American jailed for nearly four years in Russia.
The deal, the second such exchange in eight months with Russia, procured the release of the most prominent American detained abroad. Griner is a two-time Olympic gold medalist whose monthslong imprisonment on drug charges brought unprecedented attention to the population of wrongful detainees.
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.
-
2:08:37
R.C. Davis
15 hours agoPresident Donald Trump addresses the 2024 Republican National Convention - July 18, 2024
218 -
59:17
Lee Camp
4 hours agoBREAKING: Yemen Strikes Tel Aviv! + US Declares Aid Pier FINISHED
13.8K -
1:04:35
In The Litter Box w/ Jewels & Catturd
16 hours agoFight! Fight! Fight! | In the Litter Box w/ Jewels & Catturd – Ep. 608 – 7/19/2024
33.9K21 -
LIVE
Revenge of the Cis
1 hour agoMovie Riff: Apocalypse 4 Judgement
558 watching -
LIVE
Exploring With Nug
5 hours agoUnsolved: The Disappearance of College Freshman Justin Gaines
404 watching -
LIVE
TENET Media
3 hours agoTrump Assassination BREAKING Woke TV w/The Quartering | The Culture War with Tim Pool
905 watching -
1:32:41
Robert Gouveia
7 hours agoSecret Service COMPLICIT; FURIOUS Senators Confront Director; New Timeline DEMOLISHES Cover-up
41.4K89 -
15:32
Winston Marshall
1 day agoHollywood’s DEAFENING Silence On Trump's Assassination Attempt
30.7K60 -
1:00:59
Ben Shapiro
4 hours agoEp. 2008 - Trump Triumphs, Biden Leaves THIS WEEKEND?!
101K101 -
16:25
Silver Dragons
1 day agoBullion Dealer on Silver and Gold AFTER TRUMP WINS
15.4K2