How the U.S. government was able to secure Brittney Griner's release?

[{"selector":"#anim-fe9e04ef-733c-44cf-9dad-4324e403c535 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(40.44189449640733%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] Almost 10 months after Brittney Griner was arrested at the Moscow Airport, the WNBA star is finally back in the United States.

[{"selector":"#anim-a342c664-3a91-4ac8-81c3-4e391e00ddb8 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-18.749999764155405%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] The negotiations regarding the release of the WNBA star were going on for a long time as she was detained for having vape cartridges with cannabis oil.

[{"selector":"#anim-e721c3ac-2b73-45e9-99b6-79dc4fe11ea6 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(17.512128017485434%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Brittney Griner arrived at the Kelly Field in San Antonio on December 9, 2022, after she was released from the Russian prison.

[{"selector":"#anim-a73cddd8-2815-4e4c-a1db-c498fcf4eb78 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(18.080357460480005%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] The Joe Biden administration negotiated a one-for-one prisoner swap involving convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout in order to get Brittney Griner released.

[{"selector":"#anim-571b8993-6cb9-42d2-8df9-ed4b3a2b3e3e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(34.179687404002955%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] Years ago, Infamous arms dealer Viktor Bout was sentenced to 25 years in prison by the U.S. government.

[{"selector":"#anim-038c46f5-ef68-4137-aaa9-5edaae16d3fc [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-31.276785600673975%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] As the basketball star is back, questions about the release of Paul Whelan have also been raised. The marine has revealed that he's 'disappointed' because his release wasn't initiated by the U. S government.

[{"selector":"#anim-31852c4e-4eea-4d24-abc7-587f86d6f7b3 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(15.071074063765339%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] Paul Whelan was detained in Russia on the suspicion of spying in 2018. After two years, he was sentenced to 18 years in prison.

[{"selector":"#anim-02be32fc-80a4-46b1-8eb1-17fe462708a6 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-52.52954110939875%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] “The choice was bringing Brittney Griner home right now, or bringing no one home right now,” one senior administration official said about Whelan's case.

[{"selector":"#anim-3ab39b8e-c4df-40e6-b277-da5829a97547","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":550,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e044047b-9321-47b0-a7b6-54ecf07285e4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 203.83840%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":550,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-51f880bf-ece6-4e99-a7bb-1029865fb9a8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":450,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-aaebfa18-844f-4c96-a6fa-78dafc40d3ca","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 176.56566%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":450,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-672ec403-4d72-4820-bd02-6ffb8f2e737e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":350,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-acb440fa-cc31-4ae8-b991-cff44fb50615","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 144.74748%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":350,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] swipe up swipe up Swipe Up Watch More