WNBA star Brittney Griner was released to the United States in a prisoner swap Thursday, U.S. officials said, ending her 294-day ordeal in Russian custody.
U.S. officials confirmed to VICE News and other media outlets that they secured Griner’s release in exchange for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. President Joe Biden signed off on the deal within the last week, CBS News reported.
Griner, who was sentenced to nine years in prison in August, is back in U.S. custody, American officials told CBS News. Biden is set to speak at the White House to announce the deal Thursday morning, according to CBS News. Paul Whelan, a former Marine convicted of spying in Russia, was reportedly not part of the deal.
President Joe Biden confirmed the deal Thursday morning in a tweet which showed him in the Oval Office with Brittney Griner’s wife, Cherelle Griner, and Vice President Kamala Harris.
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