Brittney Griner, the WNBA star, and two-time Olympic gold medalist was released from a Russian prison on December 8. She had been held in Russia since February on drug charges. According to the Russian authorities, Griner tried to leave Russia carrying vape cartridges with traces of cannabis she had illegally brought to Russia. During the ten months, Griner was tried, convicted, and imprisoned, the US government and various other groups and individuals appealed for her release. Finally, the US agreed to release Victor Bout, a convicted arms dealer and suspected Russian spy, in return for Griner. Many Americans celebrated Griner’s return and the success of the US efforts.
But others, especially MAGA Republicans, accused the Biden Administration of bad faith in not securing the release of other Americans held by the Russians, especially Paul Whelan. Paul Whelan is a former U.S. Marine and a citizen of the US while also holding passports from Canada, Britain, and Ireland (because of his parents). Whelan received a bad-conduct discharge from the Marines for theft and other charges. In 2018 while visiting Moscow, Whelan was arrested by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) and accused of having a thumb drive with classified information. Whelan was tried and sentenced to 16 years of hard labor.
Those who are dissatisfied with Griner’s release raise two points. First, they believe the US should not have traded a basketball player for a veteran. But government officials made it clear that the Russians would not consider a trade for Whelan and Briner as a package or for Whelan alone. The Russians would only trade Bout for Briner; if the US disagreed, there would be no trade. Second, some who question the trade question the danger of trading Bout, an arms dealer known as the Merchant of Death, for a basketball player. Critics seem to forget that Griner is an American. And the government should always be expected to do what is necessary to bring its citizens home.
I believe the reason some Americans question Griner’s release is that they are keying up an attack on Biden’s re-election bid in 2024. Republicans have already accused Biden of favoring blacks over whites. Referring to Biden’s promise to name a black woman to the Supreme Court, Senator Ted Cruz said, “If you’re a white guy, tough luck.” Because one 2021 poll found that 55 percent of Republicans believed that white people faced a lot of discrimination, the Republican Party intends to attack Biden and other white politicians for favoring blacks over whites. Finding fault with Griner’s release is another example Republicans plan to use against Democrats. The truth is that the criticisms of Griner’s trade for Bout are not about her or Paul Whelan.
But others, especially MAGA Republicans, accused the Biden Administration of bad faith in not securing the release of other Americans held by the Russians, especially Paul Whelan. Paul Whelan is a former U.S. Marine and a citizen of the US while also holding passports from Canada, Britain, and Ireland (because of his parents). Whelan received a bad-conduct discharge from the Marines for theft and other charges. In 2018 while visiting Moscow, Whelan was arrested by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) and accused of having a thumb drive with classified information. Whelan was tried and sentenced to 16 years of hard labor.
Those who are dissatisfied with Griner’s release raise two points. First, they believe the US should not have traded a basketball player for a veteran. But government officials made it clear that the Russians would not consider a trade for Whelan and Briner as a package or for Whelan alone. The Russians would only trade Bout for Briner; if the US disagreed, there would be no trade. Second, some who question the trade question the danger of trading Bout, an arms dealer known as the Merchant of Death, for a basketball player. Critics seem to forget that Griner is an American. And the government should always be expected to do what is necessary to bring its citizens home.
I believe the reason some Americans question Griner’s release is that they are keying up an attack on Biden’s re-election bid in 2024. Republicans have already accused Biden of favoring blacks over whites. Referring to Biden’s promise to name a black woman to the Supreme Court, Senator Ted Cruz said, “If you’re a white guy, tough luck.” Because one 2021 poll found that 55 percent of Republicans believed that white people faced a lot of discrimination, the Republican Party intends to attack Biden and other white politicians for favoring blacks over whites. Finding fault with Griner’s release is another example Republicans plan to use against Democrats. The truth is that the criticisms of Griner’s trade for Bout are not about her or Paul Whelan.