Joe Biden Caves to Russia, Secures Brittney Griner’s Release in Prisoner Swap For Arms Dealer

On Thursday Morning, Joe Biden shared that WNBA basketball player Brittney Griner is on a plane headed home and that she has been released from a Russian penal colony.

It has been reported that Griner was released in exchange for convicted Russian arms trader Viktor Bout.

Biden declared in a statement, “Moments ago I spoke to Brittney Griner. She is safe. She is on a plane. She is on her way home.”

The announcement comes two days after the Georgia Senate runoff election and one month after the midterms.

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

Russian Foreign Ministry also issued a statement saying, “The exchange took place at an airport in Abu-Dhabi on December 8th, 2022 for Russian citizen Victor Bout and U.S. citizen Britney Griner, both of whom were serving out sentences in prisons in the United States and Russia respectively.”

The statement went on to explain that Russia had tried “over the course of a long period of time” to secure Bout’s release, but “Washington categorically refused dialogue.”

“As a result of intense efforts, we managed to agree with the American side on organization of an exchange of Bout for Griner. The Russian citizen has been returned to his homeland,” the statement added.

Griner was detained in Russia in February of this year and sentenced to nine years for bringing cannabis oil into the country.

Biden has made no mention of former marine Paul Whelan who is currently detained in Russia as well. The White House had shared they were working to get Griner and Whelan released. Meanwhile, Griner, it appears, will be home for Christmas.