White House defends decision to bring Griner home, leaving Whelan in jail trends now
The White House faced pressure Thursday to justify the terms of the deal that secured WNBA star Brittney Griner's release, hours after President Biden celebrated her immediate return from a Russian penal colony.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre faced questions about whether the swap that secured her release was a good deal, and whether the release of 'merchant of death' Viktor Bout posed a security risk.
She spoke after some House Republicans asked if 'celebrity' played a role, and detained American Paul Whelan spoke out from his own Russian prison cell asking why he was still 'sitting here' – even while praising Griner's release.
'As the president said this morning, he will he will never stop working to secure Paul's release and return home. He will not give up,' Jean-Pierre told reporters.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre faced questions Thursday about whether Brittney Griner benefited from 'celebrity' in a prisoner swap, and whether the release of convicted arms trafficker Viktor Bout harmed U.S. security interests
'On a personal note Brittany is more than an athlete more than she is an important role model and inspiration to millions of Americans, particularly the LGBTQI+ Americans and women of color,' she said. 'She should never have been detained by Russia. And we are – I am – deeply proud of the work that the President has done, this administration has done, to get her home,' she said.
She addressed the Paul Whelan situation – the contractor and former Marine has been imprisoned for four years – in her opening remarks and took multiple questions about it, after Biden and Griner's wife Cherelle each vowed to push for his release.
'There are mixed emotions today,' she said.
Jean-Pierre, like other administration officials who defended the swap, said there was only one potential deal on the table: for Griner. The
