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Brittney Griner Lands in Texas After Prisoner Swap for Russian Arms Dealer Viktor Bout

HeadlineDec 09, 2022

WNBA star Brittney Griner landed in San Antonio, Texas, early this morning after her release Thursday from a Russian prison in exchange for notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. The prisoner swap ends Griner’s 10-month ordeal, which started with her arrest at a Moscow airport for possessing a small amount of cannabis oil. She had been sentenced to nine years in a Russian labor camp. President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris celebrated the news at the White House Thursday with Brittney’s wife, Cherelle Griner.

Cherelle Griner: “Today my family is whole, but, as you all are aware, there are so many other families who are not whole. And so, BG is not here to say this, but I will gladly speak on her behalf and say that BG and I will remain committed to the work of getting every American home.”

Cherelle Griner went on to say she is committed to helping free Paul Whelan, a former U.S. Marine, who remains imprisoned in Russia.

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