Brittney Griner Released – Live: Biden Shares Moment He Told WNBA Star’s Wife ‘She’s On The Floor’

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Joe Biden says Brittney Greener is “going home” after being released from the “hell” of a Russian prison

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Joe Biden shared the video of the emotional moment when he broke the news of Brittney Greener landing on US soil, telling his wife she was “on the ground.”

The WNBA star, who has been held for months in Russia on drug charges, was released yesterday in a prisoner swap for a notorious international arms dealer, ending what Biden called months of “hell” for her and her wife.

In a one-on-one exchange, the US has reportedly been negotiating with Moscow for weeks to send arms dealer Viktor Bout in exchange for the 32-year-old American basketball player.

Cheryl Griner, the wife of a basketball star who has been fighting for her comeback, was personally informed by Mr. Biden, and the two embraced when she responded in disbelief.

“She’s safe. She’s on a plane. She’s on her way home,” Biden said in a tweet confirming her release, adding later during a speech that she was in “good spirits.”

Meanwhile, imprisoned US Marine Paul Whelan said he was “very disappointed” he wasn’t included in the prisoner swap, in a new interview with CNN.

Key points show Latest update 1670572782 The fight to free Paul Whelan continues with a new ally: wife Brittney Grenier

Former WNBA star Brittney Griner’s wife Cheryl Griner celebrated her partner’s upcoming release from a Russian penal colony, but vowed to keep fighting for other Americans held abroad — including Paul Whelan — even after Grenier returns home.

It was reported that Russia had agreed to a prisoner exchange with the United States. Greiner – jailed for smuggling after bringing a THC vape cartridge into the country – is to be replaced by “Death Dealer” Victor Bout, the international arms dealer who plotted to kill Americans.

Cheryl Greiner addressed reporters in Washington, D.C. alongside Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, celebrating his wife’s release and saying the couple will continue to fight for other Americans imprisoned outside the country.

“BG’s [Brittney Griner] Not here to say this, but I will gladly speak for her and say that BG and I will remain committed to working to get every American home, including Paul. [Whelan]whose family lives on in our hearts today as we celebrate BG’s return home,” she told the press.

Details with Graig Graziosi.

Josh Marcus Dec 9 2022 07:59

1670569242 Donald Trump Jr. slams Biden over Brittney Grenier’s prisoner swap

Don Jr. complained about the deal to trade Greiner for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout in a series of Twitter posts Thursday morning, repeating some of his father Donald Trump’s favorite talking points about Biden’s negotiating skills.

“No one does better deals than Biden,” he wrote sarcastically. “We have a dreadful America that hates a WNBA player, while Russia gets an international arms dealer!”

We have the story Bevan Hurley.

Josh Marcus Dec 9 2022 07:00

Why are conservatives so angry that Brittney Grenier is free?

Russia has agreed to release former WNBA player Brittney Grenier in a prisoner exchange deal with the United States. While Griner’s fans and loved ones celebrate, there are some people upset about the developments, all of whom happen to be ideologically opposed to Joe Biden.

Republicans — both lawmakers and media figures — have taken to social media to explain why Greener’s release was either unfair or a huge mistake.

Sen. John Cornyn initially praised the Biden administration for releasing Grainer, though he noted his “disappointment” that the president was unable to secure the release of other American prisoners abroad such as former Marines Paul Whelan and Austin Tice.

Whelan, 52, was arrested in Russia in 2018 and convicted of espionage in 2020. He has been in a criminal colony since his conviction. Conservatives have used his continued imprisonment to fuel their criticism of the Biden administration.

Graig Graziosi with full report.

Josh Marcus Dec 9 2022 06:00

The Biden administration has vowed to continue to fight for Paul Whelan’s release following the Griner deal

President Joe Biden said WNBA star Brittney Grenier will “soon return to the arms of her loved ones” after nearly a year in the “unbearable conditions” of Russian custody.

On Thursday, Mr. Biden, accompanied by Vice President Kamala Harris, Mrs. Greiner’s wife Cheryl, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, said Mrs. Greiner’s release marked “a good morning” and “a day we’ve worked for a long time.”

“We have never stopped pressing for her release. It has taken arduous and intense negotiations, and I want to thank all the hard-working public servants across my administration, who have worked tirelessly to secure her release.

Andrew Feinberg follows the story from Washington.

Josh Marcus Dec 9 2022 05:00

1670561615 Biden shares the moment he told the WNBA star’s wife she was on the floor

Joe Biden shared the video of the moment he personally notified wife Brittney Grenier that she had arrived on US soil.

“She’s down to earth,” Biden told Cheryl Grainer, who responded in disbelief.

“Whoa, stop it,” Cheryl Greiner said, before the US president reassured her and the two embraced.

The news was broken to her in the presence of Vice President Kamala Harris and US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.

Shweta Sharma December 9, 2022 04:53

1670558442 Donald Trump’s hypocrisy over Brittney Greener

Two years after his term in the White House ended without being named, Donald Trump is now claiming that a prisoner exchange conducted by the Biden administration to return the home of wrongfully detained WNBA star Brittney Griner is “stupid” and a “totally one-sided deal” because it did not include the veteran in US Marine Paul Whelan.

Trump, who had Whelan held under surveillance on bogus espionage charges just three days after Christmas in 2018, criticized the Biden administration’s return of an American hostage from abroad on his Truth Social platform, writing: “Why wasn’t ex-Marine Paul Whelan included in this Is the deal completely one-sided? He would have been allowed out to ask.”

The disgraced former president, whose family was convicted of criminal tax fraud earlier this week, also complained because the deal freed Ms. Greiner, the basketball player he baselessly accused of hating the United States, from Russian-born arms dealer Viktor Bout.

“What a ‘stupid’ and unpatriotic embarrassment to the United States!!!” he wrote.

Andrew Feinberg has more.

Josh Marcus Dec 9 2022 04:00

1670554842 The video shows a prisoner exchange that released Brittney Greener

US officials said Greiner was released in exchange for the release of Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, after months of talks between Washington and Moscow over the basketball star’s fate.

The exchange, captured by Russian state television, shows former prisoners meeting on the tarmac in Abu Dhabi.

According to the White House, President Joe Biden has already spoken to Ms. Greiner after her release.

Independent TV has the full story.

Brittney Greener: Release footage from the Abu Dhabi prisoner exchange

Russia has released WBNA star Brittney Greener in a prisoner swap nearly nine months after she was arrested on drug charges at a Moscow airport. US officials said Greiner was released in exchange for the release of Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, after months of talks between Washington and Moscow over the basketball star’s fate. The exchange, captured by Russian state television, shows former prisoners meeting on the tarmac in Abu Dhabi. According to the White House, President Joe Biden has already spoken to Ms. Greiner after her release. Sign up for the US Evening Newsletter here

Josh Marcus Dec 9 2022 03:00

1670551242 “It worked”: Viktor Bout’s Russian TV shows arrive in Moscow

Viktor Bout has arrived in Moscow, according to Russian state media.

Upon his return to Moscow, the 55-year-old Pot hugged his mother and wife.

“In the middle of the night, they simply woke me up and said, ‘Get your things together’ and that was it.”

Josh Marcus Dec 9 2022 02:00

1670550042 Prison guards are Brenner Greiner’s footage of the WNBA star’s release from a Russian prison

Russian state media published footage of Brittney Greener on her release from prison.

Josh Marcus Dec 9 2022 01:40

1670548842 ‘We’re so happy you’re home’: Warriors coach Steve Kerr welcomes Brittney Grenier back to the US

NBA Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr has received a warm message for Brittney Griner after it was announced that the WNBA star is on her way back to the United States.

“Britney, I just want to tell you on behalf of the entire Warriors organization, we are so incredibly happy for you and your family,” Kerr said in a video message. “We can’t imagine what you went through. Incredible perseverance you showed just to get through your time in Russia. We are so glad you are back home.”

Watch his full remarks here, via the Warriors Twitter page.

Josh Marcus Dec 9 2022 01:20

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