On Thursday, Joe Biden announced that WNBA star Brittney Griner had been released from a Russian prison and was on her way home. However, the circumstances of her release were not as straightforward as many news outlets have reported. Griner had been detained in a penal colony in Russia for ten months after being caught with vape cartridges containing illegal cannabis oils at a Moscow airport. Biden has celebrated Griner’s release but has not addressed the potential missteps in the process.
But there is a glaring problem with her release. In order to get Griner freed from Russian custody, we had to free a big time criminal.
In exchange for Brittney Griner’s release, the United States freed the notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, who is known as the “Merchant of Death” and was the inspiration for the film “Lord of War.” Griner was serving a nine-year sentence in Russia, while Bout was serving a much longer sentence and appeared to be in the middle of a 25-year sentence.
Bout was convicted of conspiring to kill Americans through his ties to a Colombian terrorist organization. This trade has raised concerns among some Americans, particularly because it does not include Paul Whelan, a businessman and former Marine who is imprisoned in Russia on suspicion of spying. The Biden administration has notified Whelan’s family that he will not be part of the Griner-Bout prisoner swap.
“That early warning meant that our family has been able to mentally prepare for what is now a public disappointment for us. And a catastrophe for Paul … I do not know if he is aware yet, although he will surely learn from Russian media,” David Whelan, Paul’s brother told NBC News.
People are now showing their outrage over the exchange:
Meet Brittney Griner & Marine Paul Whelan.
Both Americans.
Both were convicted in Russian courts on dubious charges.
Both serving multi-year sentences in Russian prison.
Brittney hates America
Paul served AmericaGuess which one Biden traded a terrorist to free?
Semper fi Paul pic.twitter.com/tuP1R6AZpf
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) December 8, 2022
Biden gave up a Russian arms dealer in exchange for an anti-American WNBA player, while leaving US Marine Paul Whelan to rot in a Russian prison. This is an abomination. Our country is run by incompetent scumbags.
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) December 8, 2022
U.S. Marine Paul Whelan should have been the Biden Regime’s higher priority, that’s a fact. But under no circumstances should an international arms dealer who targeted US citizens, the MERCHANT OF DEATH Viktor Bout, have been released. This is pure idiocy.
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) December 8, 2022
Brittney Griner being released in exchange for a convicted arms dealer.
What about Retired U.S. Marine Paul Whelan?
— Mayra Flores (@MayraFlores2022) December 8, 2022
When you’re voting on November 5th 2024, don’t forget that Biden left a Marine behind to save an athlete.
— Ryan Fournier (@RyanAFournier) December 8, 2022
Can you imagine the headlines if Trump traded one of the biggest terrorist in the world "TO RUSSIA" for a basketball player.
— Catturd ™ (@catturd2) December 8, 2022
We all know why this trade happened, and it’s disgusting. This is just as bad as Obama’s Bergdahl swap for four Taliban members, if not worse!
