WNBA star Brittney Griner is reportedly making her way back home after America and Russia have struck up a trade deal involving Griner and an international arms dealer.
According to CNN’s Jim Acosta in a Tweet on Thursday morning, the United States will be sending Viktor Bout to Russia in return for the women’s hoops sensation.
“WNBA star Brittney Griner has been released from Russian detention in a prisoner swap for convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.”
Less than a month ago a Russian sentenced Griner to nine years in the hellish IK-2 Mordovia compound, which is a work camp and is known to torture prisoners who do not complete the assigned tasks.
Apparently, that sentence was enough to get the Biden Administration to completely bend the knee to Putin and his demand to receive Viktor Bout in any agreement made to return Griner to the States.
The Ap News said this when explaining the dangers associated with allowing Bout to return to 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, on the other hand, is known for kneeling for the national anthem at Pheonix Mercury games. She was the first overall pick in 2013 and has averaged 17 points per game in her career. I am not exactly sure what the conversion rate is from points to illegal weapons sold, but Viktor Bout seems to be the more prolific asset in this deal.
Griner’s return will undoubtedly be met with wary eyes by many, but rabid fans of the WNBA will be thrilled to see her leading the league in dunks upon her return. That is hundreds, maybe even a thousand, enthused fans. There’s another example of the Biden Administration putting a smile on Americans’ faces.
Joe Biden took to Twitter this morning to announce the deal as he embraced Brittney Griner’s smiling wife.
“Moments ago I spoke to Brittney Griner. She is safe. She is on a plane. She is on her way home.”
Moments ago I spoke to Brittney Griner.
She is safe.
She is on a plane.
She is on her way home. pic.twitter.com/FmHgfzrcDT— President Biden (@POTUS) December 8, 2022
Griner should count herself lucky that she can shoot a basketball because that seems to be the only separating factor between her and Paul Whelan, another American who has found himself imprisoned in Russia. He was not included in the deal, presumably because Biden could not scrounge up another war criminal to make the trade fair.
Biden spoke about Whelan, saying this.
“We have not forgotten about Paul Whelan, who has been unjustly detained in Russia for years.”
Now, the ball is back in Biden’s court, as he has an opportunity to prove that he has not forgotten about Whelan after trying so desperately to return Griner to the USA.
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