Veteran U.S. diplomat Bill Richardson hopeful for Brittney Griner prisoner swap

Brittney Griner is escorted from a courtroom after a hearing in Khimki, Russia. (Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP)

WASHINGTON — Bill Richardson, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and a frequent emissary in hostage negotiations, said Tuesday he was hopeful about the chances of a two-for-two prisoner swap that could result in Russia’s release of WNBA star Brittney Griner and another jailed American, Paul Whelan.

In cases like this, Richardson said in an interview with The Associated Press, “it’s proportional — two-for two.”