After spending almost an entire year detained in Russia, the Phoenix Mercury center has been released in a prisoner swap involving convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. While many people are excited for her, there are others wondering what that means for Paul Whelan, who is another American that is wrongfully detained according to the State Department.
“She’s safe, she’s on a plane, she’s on her way home,” Biden said Thursday morning. “After months of being unjustly detained in Russia, held under intolerable circumstances, Brittney will soon be back in the arms of her loved ones, and she should have been there all along.”
It’s amazing news for Griner and her family, as their nightmare appears to be finally coming to an end. However, many folks that include Dallas Cowboys star Micah Parsons cannot fathom why the country would leave a marine behind.
As you can see, he went super viral for his responses, but he would be informed of what happened and why Whelan wasn’t freed, which made the Cowboys linebacker head back to Twitter and issue an apology.
“Just spoke to some people that I respect and trust. I should have been more educated on the topic and not tweeted out of emotion for my family and other who have served. For that I apologize. Also if what I’m told about the attempts to bring Ret Marine Paul Whelan home are true
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then the best outcome was accomplished. I pray Mr. Whelan comes home but am extremely happy for Brittney and her family. I am not too prideful to admit when I’ve made a mistake.”
In exchange for her release, the U.S. government will reportedly send convicted international arms dealer Viktor Bout back to Russia. Bout, nicknamed the “Merchant of Death,” was sentenced to 25 years in prison after being convicted of conspiracy to kill Americans.
Retired U.S. Marine Paul Whelan has been imprisoned in Russia for the past four years on espionage charges.
This news comes after months of back-and-forth negotiations between the U.S. and Russia following Griner’s arrest in February after officials allegedly found hash oil in her luggage. She pleaded and was found guilty of drug smuggling charges and was originally sentenced to nine years. Griner was sent to a penal colony in November, but now she will return home weeks before Christmas.
