Griner

[Axtremus]

[Horace]

Get your popcorn ready for whether she will kneel for the anthem at her next opportunity.

[Mik]

Good news. I wonder what it cost us.

[George K]

@Mik a Russian spy, or arms dealer I believe.

[Axtremus]

https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/brittney-griner-release-russia-prisoner-swap-viktor-bout/

A swap for arms dealer Viktor Bout.

[Jolly]

[Axtremus]

Shown in the pictures in the tweet, dressed in red, is Brittney Griner's wife Cherelle Griner.

[jon-nyc]

Damn. There was a veteran held on suspicion of being a cia agent that was going to be part of the swap.

He should have been prioritized over this chick.

[Renauda]

@jon-nyc

I would have thought so as well.

[George K]

@jon-nyc said in Griner:

Damn. There was a veteran held on suspicion of being a cia agent that was going to be part of the swap.

He should have been prioritized over this chick.

Indeed.

[Catseye3]

Maybe they perceive it as some kind of positive PR move.

[jon-nyc]

Well to be fair I have no idea whether the Russians were really against releasing Paul Whelan or if they only had one and chose Griner.

The comments from Whelan’s family suggest the former, they said Biden did the right thing trading for Griner rather than hold out for a deal that can’t be done.

[George K]

LOL...

[George K]

Double LOL:

[Mik]

There was more juice in getting Griner out. I would not be surprised if they prioritized her.

[George K]

@Mik said in Griner:

There was more juice in getting Griner out. I would not be surprised if they prioritized her.

Yes. Supposedly the Russians are considering Whelan an espionage case, so it's not the same as a petty drug crime.

So, we gave them an arms dealer.

Right....

[Renauda]

@George-K

Frankly, I think the Russians just got tired of the athlete’s incessant assertions of being discriminated against because of being black and gay along with her whining about the food and accommodations. Besides that, the other inmates probably disliked her sense of entitlement.

[kluurs]

I can only imagine the despair of Whelan and his family. How horrible...

[LuFins Dad]

In the meantime nobody is even mentioning Mark Fogel.

[George K]

@LuFins-Dad said in Griner:

In the meantime nobody is even mentioning Mark Fogel.

He and Whelan don't check the "correct" boxes.