The State Department provided an update Monday on where things stand regarding discussions to return Brittney Griner back to the United States ahead of the detained WNBA star’s appeal Tuesday.
Griner, who’s currently serving a nine-year sentence for drug possession, has been the subject of talks regarding a potential prisoner swap that would free the 31-year-old along with Paul Whelan, an American who received a 16-year sentence in 2018 for alleged espionage.
Speaking on the status of the discussions Monday, State Department spokesperson Ned Price stated that the U.S. has had continuous discussions with Russia “including in recent days” but talks “have not gotten to the point where we would like them to be.”
