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Congressman Breaks Silence as US Govt Makes “A Very Good Offer” for WNBA Star Brittney Griner: “The Ball Is Entirely in the Russians’ Court”

Published 07/31/2022, 11:00 AM EDT

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Brittney Griner may be able to return to the United States in the near future provided things work in harmony. According to Congressman Colin Allred, there is optimism that the WNBA star may return home as the US Government negotiates a deal with Russia.

Griner has been imprisoned in Russia since February. She was reportedly detained at a Russian airport when authorities found vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage. She later pled guilty to the Russian drug charges in the months that followed. The Phoenix Mercury star has been behind the bars ever since, where she faces up to 10 years of imprisonment.

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President Joe Biden reportedly offered to trade a Russian arms dealer for Brittney Griner. Colin Allred weighed in on the matter, claiming the US Government had made “a very good offer” to Russia. In his statement, the Congressman expressed optimism that Griner might be back home soon.

“The ball is entirely in the Russians’ court,” Allred said while speaking to TMZ. “I think prospects, in my opinion, look better now than they have really at any point since she was taken,” he added.

Allred, however, stated that he believes Russia would prefer to enforce a sentence on Griner before considering any trade offers. He did, however, express some optimism, saying “I think it’s a matter of time, but I think it’s going to get done.” 

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Her trial is set to resume next week with another hearing.

The US Government has proposed a prisoner swap to secure Brittney Griner’s release

The United States is intensifying its attempts to bring Brittney Griner back to home soil. President Joe Biden is said to have proposed a prisoner swap with Russia to secure the WNBA star’s release. The US government has proposed exchanging Griner and Paul Whelan for convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.

Whelan has been imprisoned overseas since 2018 on espionage charges. While Bout is presently serving a 25-year prison sentence in the United States. He was convicted in 2011 of unlawfully supplying firearms to a notorious Colombian terrorist group.

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Griner is presently in a much better position than in prior months. Several athletes, including Stephen Curry, LeBron James, Megan Rapinoe, and others, have spoken out in support of the WNBA star.

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What does the future have in store for Brittney Griner?

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Written by:

Ritvik Malhotra

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Ritvik is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports. Having completed his Bachelor's in Journalism and Mass Communication from Amity University, Ritvik has finally got his foot in the door as a professional sports writer. He previously interned at another media house where he authored over 150 soccer articles, but he is now writing about his primary obsession, basketball.
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Edited by:

Jito Tenson