The U.S. has offered a deal to Russia aimed at bringing home WNBA star Brittney Griner and another jailed American, Paul Whelan. Not everybody agrees with this deal for many reasons.
According to a report from CNN, the United States offered Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer known as the “Merchant of Death” in exchange for Griner and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan.
Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo hates this deal.
Here’s what he said, via FOX News:
He’s a bad guy. He is a guy who wanted to kill Americans. It presents a real risk to the United States… There’s a real reason the Russians want to get him home. To offer a trade like this is a dangerous precedent,” Pompeo told “America’s Newsroom.”
“This is not a good trade, not the right path forward, and it’ll likely lead to more.”
Bout is currently serving a 25-year sentence in U.S. prison after being convicted in 2011 of conspiracy to kill Americans, conspiracy to deliver anti-aircraft missiles, and aiding a terrorist organization.
Griner, in Russian custody for the last five months, acknowledged in court this month that she had vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage when she arrived in Moscow in February but contends she had no criminal intent and packed the cartridges inadvertently.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral WNBA stories via Google! Follow Us
Griner said she did not know how the cannabis oil ended up in her bag but explained she had a doctor’s recommendation for it.
