Tag: Brittney Griner

Trade Alert: Griner for the Merchant of Death

President Joe Biden and Russia’s Vladimir Putin agreed to swap WNBA player Brittney Griner, who was in Russian prison for marijuana possession while traveling, for Viktor Bout, the “Merchant of Death” who sold arms and was convicted of conspiring to kill Americans. The real winner of this trade was clearly Russia, as Putin continues to…


Russian Arms Dealer Trade for Basketball Star Is a ‘Bad Guys for Celebrities’ Swap That Puts American Lives at Risk: Pompeo

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo criticized the Biden administration’s decision to swap celebrity basketball player Brittney Griner for a Russian arms dealer, saying the move establishes “the wrong incentives for the bad guys” and makes international travel less safe for Americans. Pompeo made the remarks during an appearance on Fox News that aired Sunday,…


Trading Russian Arms Dealer for Basketball Star Is a ‘Bad Guys for Celebrities’ Swap That Puts US Lives at Risk: Pompeo

The Biden administration’s decision to swap WNBA basketball star Brittney Griner for a convicted Russian arms dealer establishes “the wrong incentives for the bad guys” and makes international travel less safe for Americans, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said. While Pompeo says he’s glad that Griner has been freed and is back in the United…


White House: Russia Would Not Release Ex-Marine Paul Whelan in Prisoner Swap

White House spokesman John Kirby said the Russian government would not have agreed to release former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan in a prisoner swap involving Russian nationals after Russia released WNBA star Brittney Griner in exchange for arms dealer Viktor Bout. On Sunday morning, Kirby said that trading Whelan was “never a choice posed by the…


Video Shows Moment Brittney Griner Is Swapped for Arms Dealer Viktor Bout

The prisoner exchange of WNBA basketball player Brittney Griner and convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout has been caught on video and was released by Russia’s state media outlet TASS on Thursday. In the video, Griner can be seen on the tarmac of an airport wearing a red jacket as she walked next to unidentified individuals…


Musk Weighs In on Ex-marine Still Imprisoned in Russia While Basketball Player Freed

Tesla CEO Elon Musk weighed in on the fact that former marine Paul Whelan remains behind bars in a Russian prison while basketball player Brittney Griner has been freed. Griner was released by Russian authorities on Dec. 8 in a prisoner swap for convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout. “She’s safe. She’s on a plane. She’s…


White House Denies Saudi Arabia Helped Mediate Brittney Griner’s Release

The Biden administration has said that the release of WNBA basketball player Brittney Griner from a Russian penal colony was negotiated only between the United States and Russia and there was no involvement from Saudi Arabia. Griner, 32, was released by Russian authorities in a prisoner swap on Dec. 8, which saw her exchanged for convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout,…


Capitol Report: Arkansas City Elects 18-Year-Old Mayor; Same-Sex Marriage Codified, Concerns Over Religious Liberty

Landmark legislation codifying same-sex marriage passes the House, and now it’s off to the White House. Concerns linger over protections for religious liberty. President Joe Biden hailed the release of American basketball player Brittney Griner. But controversies arise as some Republicans question the deal made with Russia. The House Ethics Committee is investigating Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria…


NTD Evening News (Dec. 8): House Passes Defense Funding Bill That Scraps Military Vaccine Mandate; NYT Staffers Go on Strike

The U.S. House of Representatives on Dec. 8 passed a defense funding bill that would force the termination of the military’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate if it is also approved by the Senate and signed by President Joe Biden. The chamber also voted to pass the Respect for Marriage Act—the bill that codifies a portion of…


NTD News Today (Dec. 8): WNBA Star Brittney Griner Released from Russia; Biden Admin Trying to Keep Title 42 in Place

Brittney Griner has been released from a Russian jail. Russia said today the WNBA star has been traded for Russian arms dealer Victor Bout. Bout was one of the world’s most wanted men before his arrest. The Biden administration is trying to keep title 42 in place. The covid-era border policy allows border agents to…