Brittney Griner has been released! The WNBA star was released by Russia in a prisoner exchange deal after US. President Joe Biden signed the release of notorious arms dealer Viktor Bout. While the news has brought a smile to fans around the world, there’s a section of US citizens who aren’t too appreciative of the entire deal.
The US government had proposed the idea of a prisoner swap back in July earlier this year after its failed attempt to bring Brittney Griner home. Griner was sentenced to nine years in prison and was recently sent to the Russian Penal Colony to serve the full sentence. The WNBA star was arrested earlier this year in February after getting caught with weed vape cartridges at a Russian airport.
US citizens furious after President Joe Biden makes a deal with Russia for Brittney Griner’s release
Several on social media called out the Biden government for their hypocrisy while dealing with Brittney Griner’s case. The WNBA star was imprisoned for carrying weed vape cartridges, an offense that has many Americans put behind American bars. On the idea of fair treatment, they demanded the US government release all the prisoners jailed on cannabis charges.
Releases an arms dealer during a war with Ukraine. Never talk about gun control again.
— Wylie (@blueeyedhound1) December 8, 2022
I am glad that Britney Griner is free from a Russian prison on cannabis charges.
I am angry that Biden hasn’t lifted a finger to free any of the tens of thousands of Americans in American prisons on cannabis charges.
Especially when his crime bills put them there.
— Spike Cohen (@RealSpikeCohen) December 8, 2022
Britney Griner free but Thug/Gunna still in jail. This is the problem with the Biden administration.
— The Hood Therapist (@OhhMar24) December 8, 2022
Others called out Grinner for her past comments and claimed that there are other far more important and deserving people who deserve to be freed from Russian jails, most notably former US marine Paul Whelan.
Paul Whelan served our country and Britney Griner hates it…
Guess who the Democrats negotiated to bring home? Here’s a hint, it ain’t our Marine. pic.twitter.com/mODla3GNzF
— Ronnie Lucero (@RonnieLuceroNM) December 8, 2022
We prioritized Britney Griner, the WBNA celebrity, over a U.S. Marine Veteran still in Russia…
For an international arms dealer nicknamed the “Merchant Of Death”
What a slap in the face to Americans by Joe Biden
— Doug Collins (@RepDougCollins) December 8, 2022
WHAT ABOUT PAUL WHELAN THE VETERAN THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF IS LEAVING BEHIND
— Travis Smith (@Tsmit13) December 8, 2022
Unjustly detained? So, breaking the law in another country is allowed…just because?
— Mike Edwards (@MikeTheCop) December 8, 2022
Whelan was sentenced to 16 years in prison after being accused of spying. He was arrested by the Russian Federal Security Service in 2019. Griner’s release has started a row of support for the former United States Marine.
The hypocrisy and injustice is absolutely stunning. Britney Griner, who broke the law & pleaded guilty, is free & on her way home (and all it took was an exchange for a convicted arms dealer!).
Meanwhile, Jan 6 defendants will continue to rot in jail.
Politics ruins everything. https://t.co/HgxD7VxAym
— Viva Frei (@thevivafrei) December 8, 2022
Many were not keen on US Government’s decision to make a deal with Russia, a country facing backlash from almost the entire world for its purported attack on Ukraine in the ongoing war.
The US just traded “The Merchant of Death” for a WNBA player, and if u speak out on it u will be racist, sexist or homophobic. FUCK THAT!
DONT EVER talk to me again about caring about drugs & guns! They just probably murdered 1,000s of people now in exchange Britney Griner. pic.twitter.com/WpwjrqIew9
— Tommy G (@Tommygreturns2) December 8, 2022
Joe Biden got played in the Britney Griner trade.
— Nick Adams (Alpha Male) (@NickAdamsinUSA) December 8, 2022
So the Biden administration is going to swap Britney Griner for a world renowned arms dealer.
American citizens were left behind enemy lines in Afghanistan and January 6th political prisoners still languish in solitary confinement.
Did I get that right?
— Conservative Patriot Pizza Bitch (@PatrioticPizzas) December 8, 2022
Russia has long sought Viktor Bout’s release, who is a notorious arms dealer accused of aiding terrorist organizations, dealing arms to warlords and rogue government agents along with serious charges of conspiracy to kill US citizens. Needless to say, the prisoner swap wasn’t received well by many who felt the government made the wrong trade. What are your thoughts on Griner’s release in exchange for Viktor Bout? Do let us know in the comments section.