The U.S. has reportedly proposed a prisoner swap with Russia to secure Griner's release

(Image credit: Photo by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images)

published 27 July 2022

The Biden administration has reportedly offered to exchange Viktor Bout, a convicted Russian arms trafficker serving time in the U.S., for Americans Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan, who have been held in Russia since February and 2018, respectively, CNN reports per individuals familiar with the matter.

"We communicated a substantial offer that we believe could be successful based on a history of conversations with the Russians," a senior administration official told CNN Wednesday. "We communicated that a number of weeks ago, in June."

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The Justice Department initially resisted offering up Bout for both Whelan and Griner, who are stuck in Russia on charges pertaining to alleged espionage and drug possession, respectively. But top DOJ officials eventually relented when the arrangement garnered support from State Department and White House officials, "including Biden himself," CNN writes, per sources. Otherwise, the U.S. government does its best to avoid prisoner swaps, lest they incentivize other countries to use Americans as "bargaining chips."

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Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.

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