Griner

[Jolly]

Anybody been following the case?

Russian courts have a 90% conviction rate in these cases. Max penalty is 20 years.

https://www.foxnews.com/sports/brittney-griner-trial-begins-russian-case-wnba-star

[Mik]

I guess she shouldn't be carrying hash oil if she was.

[Jolly]

A couple of things...

Cannabis use in the NFL and NBA is rampant. In the NFL, it's a numbing agent and a muscle relaxer to cope with the violent nature of the sport. In the NBA (and WNBA), it helps cope with pain in the knees and back from a season that seems like it never ends. In Griner's case, she's playing in American and Russian leagues, trying to make a living...In America, she's one of the top ten paid players, but that's only $221K/yr. She makes over $1M in the Russian League.

So, she's doing 36 games in the U.S., plus playoffs and then a full season in Russia.

[taiwan_girl]

Read an article where someone with knowledge of the Russian legal system said that it is probably best that plead guilty. He had a list of reasons why (which I don't remember all of them. LOL)

[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....