White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre praised WNBA player Brittney Griner during Thursday’s press conference after the Biden administration released a notorious terrorist from custody in exchange for Griner being released from a Russian prison after she was arrested on drug charges earlier this year.
“President Biden keeps his promises and today he fulfilled a deeply important promise to bring Brittney Griner home to a family that loves her, a team that misses her, and a country that has marveled at her strength and courage,” Jean-Pierre said. “Throughout her ordeal, we saw Brittney, a two-time Olympic gold medalist for team USA, demonstrate strength, courage, and dignity. As the president said this morning, she represents the best of America.”
Jean-Pierre said that the U.S. government secured her release after many months of “painstaking negotiations” in which the administration bent over backward to get the deal done.
“Brittney is more than an athlete, more than an Olympian, she is an important role model and inspiration to millions of Americans, particularly the LGBTQI+ Americans and women of color,” Jean-Pierre said. “She should never have been detained by Russia. And we are, I am, deeply proud of the work that the president has done, this administration has done, to get her home.”
WATCH:
Karine Jean-Pierre on why the White House was able to bring Griner home but not former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan:
“Unfortunately, the choice became to either bring Brittney home or no one.”
Weak. pic.twitter.com/Gw2CeJJQBa
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) December 8, 2022
TRANSCRIPT:
KARINE JEAN-PIERRE, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: President Biden keeps his promises. And today he fulfilled a deeply important promise to bring Brittney Griner home to a family that loves her, a team that misses her, and a country that has marveled at her strength and courage. Brittney’s safe return home is the product of months and months of painstaking negotiations that were the culmination of extraordinary efforts across the U.S. government. Officials from the White House, the State Department and across the administration work tirelessly and relentlessly to see this moment through. As the Secretary of State said publicly in July, we have been engaging in intense negotiations with Russia, pursuing many different avenues over the course of the last six months to secure Brittney’s release, and we know Brittney fought tirelessly, too. Throughout her ordeal, we saw Brittney, a two time Olympic gold medalist for team USA, demonstrate strength, courage, and dignity. As the President said this morning, she represents the best of America.
I had the opportunity to speak to Cherelle Griner a couple of hours ago, who was looking forward to seeing Brittney as soon as she returned home later today. Cherelle, who herself has handled Brittany’s detention with incredible strength, asked me to communicate once again her sincere gratitude to everyone in the administration, and in their broader, in their own broader support network, who made this day possible. She also wanted to reinforce the commitment she and Cherelle have made to stand up and speak out for other Americans wrongfully detained abroad. While we’re celebrating Brittney’s return home today, we have also continued to be in touch with the Whelan family for whom this news brings mixed emotions. In recent weeks, it became clear that while Russians were willing to reach an agreement to secure Brittney’s release, they continue to treat Paul Whelan differently given the nature of the totally illegitimate charges they have levied against Paul. Unfortunately, the choice became to either bring Brittney home or no one. As the President said this morning, he will never stop working to secure Paul’s release and return home and he will not give up. On a personal note, Brittney is more than an athlete, more than an Olympian, she is an important role model and inspiration to millions of Americans, particularly the LGBTQI+ Americans and women of color. She should never have been detained by Russia. And we are, I am, deeply proud of the work that the President has done, this administration has done, to get her home.
Related: WNBA Star Brittney Griner Freed From Russian Prison In Swap For Arms Dealer