Live updates: Brittney Griner released from Russian prison, Biden gives remarks
NBCJUL 2022
In making the Griner swap, the Biden admin. left behind an ex-Marine who has dedicated his life to his country and has been unjustly imprisoned on trumped-up charges. This was an amateurish move that stinks of wokeism and continues the president’s strategy of pandering to those he wants votes from. The US has now given up its one bargaining chip.
This wasn't a case of either-or — the Biden admin. made the difficult decision to secure the release of Griner rather than no American at all. There’s still work to be done, but Whelan will eventually be freed because Russia still wants plenty of other things that could be traded. No price will be too great to pay to bring Whelan home, and the admin. won’t stop trying until he has returned.