According to ABC News, Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson is planning to go to Russia “in the near future” as part of talks to see if a deal can be brokered to being WNBA star Brittney Griner home to the United States.
Richardson previously served as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and energy secretary during the Clinton administration, and also played a part in the prisoner exchange back in April that led to the release of U.S. Marine Trevor Reed.
The former Gov. is expected to visit Moscow in the coming weeks. Richardson’s office did not confirm the potential visit and told ABC News “we are unable to comment on this at the moment.”
Russia has made it clear they are interested in trading Griner for Russians currently held in U.S. prisons, which was part of how Reed was able to come home. This upcoming trip is expected to focus on seeing if a similar deal can be reached for Griner, who has been detained in Russia since February. She recently pled guilty to having a vape cartridge with cannabis oil into the country, though her trial has been considered by experts to be a sham intent on driving negotiations between the two countries.
[ABC News]
