The U.S. has made a prisoner exchange offer to Russia for WNBA star Brittney Griner and another American, according to CNN.
Viktor Bout, who is a convicted Russian arms dealer, is reportedly part of the possible exchange deal as well as American Paul Whelan, who is being held by the Russian government. President Joe Biden does support the swap of Griner and Bout for Whelan, who has been held since 2018 over espionage allegations, reportedly overriding any possible opposition from the Department of Justice. The DOJ is routinely against prisoner trades.
A senior administration official said to CNN on Wednesday, “We communicated that a number of weeks ago, in June.” They later added that it’s up to Russia “to be responsive to it, yet at the same time that does not leave us passive, as we continue to communicate the offer at very senior levels.”
