Fans, friends and allies from across the sports world were overtaken with joy when news of Brittney Griner’s release broke Thursday morning. The U.S. government successfully orchestrated a 1-to-1 prisoner swap with Russia to bring Griner home after she spent months in detainment on drug smuggling charges and later sentenced to nine years in prison.
As it stands now, she’s free, safe and on a flight home. But it didn’t come without a heavy cost considering who she was swapped for. And there’s still plenty of work to be done to bring another detainee home, too.
Let’s dig into the aftermath of all this now that Griner is on her way back to the United States.
So BG is freed. What happens next?
Yes. She’s on a plane now, per President Joe Biden. She should be home within the next day or so. Griner’s wife, Cherelle, also spoke during Biden’s news conference, saying her family is “whole” again.
Griner is on her way to San Antonio to be treated at a military medical facility where her wife will meet her.
NBC News is reporting that Brittney Griner will be flown to a military medical facility in San Antonio to make sure she's well. Her wife Cherelle will also fly here to greet her. @AshSuttonSA @KABBFOX29
— Ernie Zuniga (@Ernie_Zuniga) December 8, 2022
How'd they manage to get her out?
There was a 1-to-1 prisoner swap between the United States and Russia to get Griner back.
It came at a steep cost as Griner was swapped with Viktor Bout, a Russian war merchant who hadn’t even served half of his 25-year sentence in the United States. He had been on the run from authorities for years before finally being arrested in 2008 in a DEA sting operation.
That seems like a pretty dangerous dude to just swap away
Oh, he absolutely is. Here’s everything he was accused of, according to the New York Times. It’s heavy stuff.
“Mr. Bout was accused of selling weapons to Al Qaeda, the Taliban and militants in Rwanda. According to several investigations and his U.S. indictment, he and his associates flouted arms embargoes in Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Algeria, where he sold weapons to both the government forces and the rebels fighting them.”
It is no light thing at all that he is now free. But the priority here was bringing Griner home and that is what mattered most in this scenario.
Yikes. Wait, wasn't there someone else the U.S. was asking for, too?
Yes. That would be former Marine Paul Whelan, who was detained by Russian officials back in 2018 on espionage charges.
Both Whelan and the United States have insisted that he is not a spy and that he has been wrongfully charged and detained. However, Russia has insisted on holding onto him because of his charges.
Wow. So the U.S. chose not to bring a former Marine home?
That’s not what happened.
This was reportedly all-or-nothing for Griner — sending Whelan home was never in consideration for Russia. It was either swap Bout for Griner or the situation remains the same, per T.J. Quinn of ESPN.
Sources saying the US had been pushing to bring Griner and Paul Whelan home together, but Russian officials said it's this deal or nothing. US decided to make the deal. Whelan's family says they understand and the WH did the right thing. https://t.co/xYNeAL5oX9
— T.J. Quinn (@TJQuinnESPN) December 8, 2022
Whelan’s family was completely understanding of the impossible circumstances here. They were thrilled Griner was brought home, but maintained their concern for Whelan.
David Whelan, Paul Whelan's brother, says: "Any time an American comes home, it's wonderful news … We do worry about what's in Paul's future. I think it's become clear that the U.S. doesn't have any concessions that Russia wants for Paul." pic.twitter.com/xkTpJbaR0Y
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) December 8, 2022
Wow. This is messed up.
It’s not an ideal scenario, which is why some aren’t thrilled about the decision.
The 1-for-1 prisoner swap of Brittney Griner and Viktor Bout between the U.S. and Russia was a "very bad mistake," former Trump admin. National Security Adviser Amb. John Bolton says, calling it a "victory for Moscow over Washington."
"It endangers other Americans in the future" pic.twitter.com/ZwFFFaQKPJ
— CBS News (@CBSNews) December 8, 2022
So was it a bad decision?
No. It was an impossible one. Leaving someone wrongfully detained in another country is not the move under any circumstance. Bringing that person home is always a great thing, whether it’s Griner or Whelan or anyone else.
The fact that Griner is coming home is a huge victory for her family and the country. Cherelle says they are also dedicating themselves to making sure Whelan and other wrongfully detained prisoners are brought home, too.
Cherelle Griner says Brittney Griner and “I will remain committed to the work of getting every American home, including Paul.” pic.twitter.com/npWModqAwq
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) December 8, 2022
The work is not finished. There’s still lots to be done and, hopefully, it will be.
But today is still worth celebrating. Welcome home, Brittney Griner. We’re glad you’re finally safe and sound.
