Last year, the United States secured the release of WNBA superstar Brittney Griner by way of a prisoner swap that sent convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout back to Russia. Many have been angry that the United States was willing to make the trade to secure the release of Griner but not former United States Marine Paul Whelan, who was also imprisoned in Russia. But as it turns out, Whelan was supposed to be released too.
As Rep. Michael McCaul, the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, explains, the United States originally had a deal that would send both Britteny Griner and Paul Whelan back to the United States in return for Bout. But Russian president Vladimir Putin backed out of the deal at the last minute.
“The deal was originally when the arms dealer from Russia was released that it was supposed to be Griner, the athlete, and Paul Whelan,” Rep. McCaul revealed this week during an appearance on CNN, according to TMZ. “When they got to the point of the handoff, they call it, the Russians only showed up with one of the hostages, and that was Griner. And unfortunately, the Marine, Paul Whelan, was left behind.”
McCaul believes that this was an intentional move from Putin to get the upper hand on United States President Joe Biden during the hostage negotiations.
“Very tricky on Putin’s part, and in my view, the Biden administration got played by releasing a very dangerous arms dealer for just one hostage, and not both,” McCaul said.
People were not happy with Joe Biden after hearing that the United States got played in this negotiation.
Vladimir Putin ‘played’ Joe Biden, didn’t return Brittney Griner & Paul Whelan #BidenLies 😡 https://t.co/gtcdZ3NioQ
— Dunster14 (@dunster14) April 26, 2023
Vladimir Putin 'played' Joe Biden, didn't return Brittney Griner & Paul Whelan || https://t.co/I2QNECXolI || A US government official says that Russia didn't go through with the hostage deal for Brittney Griner. and Paul Whelan.
— Clan Whelan (@clanwhelan) April 26, 2023
Paul Whelan and didn't. I find this to be very suspicious since Biden was Gloating about how the trade was successful. Since the Uproar about Whelan not being Traded, well guess what? Another Biden Failure going into an Campaign!!
— t (@TARGETED123) April 26, 2023
Read "Vladimir Putin ‘played’ Joe Biden, didn’t return Brittney Griner & Paul Whelan" on SmartNews:
Commander-in-Chief of the US Armed Forces, Leader of the Free World GOT PLAYED
https://t.co/mzGRpZwViE #SmartNews— John D. Elmstedt Jr. (@Johnnystill1) April 27, 2023
It’s certainly a shocking development in the case.
[TMZ]
