U.S. Reportedly Proposes Deal With Russia to Release Brittney Griner in Exchange for Convicted Arms Dealer

The Biden administration has reportedly presented a “substantial offer” to Russia that could bring Brittney Griner home. 

“People briefed on the matter” tell CNN that the president approved the proposal back in June, about four months after Griner was arrested at a Russian airport on contraband charges. The U.S. allegedly asked Russia to release the WNBA star and imprisoned American Paul Whelan in exchange for Viktor Bout, a convicted convicted Russian arms dealer who is currently locked up in the U.S.

“We communicated a substantial offer that we believe could be successful based on a history of conversations with the Russians. … It takes two to tango. We start all negotiations to bring home Americans held hostage or wrongfully detained with a bad actor on the other side,” a senior Biden administration official told CNN. “We start all of these with somebody who has taken a human being American and treated them as a bargaining chip. So in some ways, it’s not surprising, even if it’s disheartening, when those same actors don’t necessarily respond directly to our offers, don’t engage constructively in negotiations.”

This story is being updated.