In exchange for Marc Fogel, the United States will release Russian cybercriminal Alexander Vinnik, who had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and faced 20 years in prison.
Vinnik, 44, headed the criminal cryptocurrency exchange BTC-e, which is suspected of laundering $4 billion of criminal proceeds between 2011 and 2017. The platform facilitated transactions for cybercriminals committing crimes ranging from computer hacking to fraud, identity theft, tax refund fraud schemes, public corruption, and drug trafficking.
He was first arrested in July 2017 in Greece at the request of the United States and extradited to the United States in 2022.
“After more than five years of litigation, Russian national Alexander Vinnik was extradited to the United States yesterday to be held accountable for operating BTC-e, a criminal cryptocurrency exchange, which laundered more than $4 billion of criminal proceeds,” Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division <a href="https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/alleged-russian-cryptocurrency-money-launderer-extradited-united-states" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said at the time</a>.
The Trump administration&#8217;s release of Vinnik stands in stark contrast to Biden’s 2022 controversial release of Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, nicknamed the &#8216;Merchant of Death,&#8217; in exchange for basketball player Brittney Griner. Griner was imprisoned six months after Fogel for the same crime yet released more than two years before him.
After enduring three years in a Russian penal colony, Fogel, an American schoolteacher, was welcomed at the White House on Tuesday night by President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump</a> following his return to the United States.
“I feel like the luckiest man on earth right now,” Fogel said at the White House. “I want you to know that I am not a hero in this at all and President Trump is a hero. These men that came from the diplomatic service are heroes. The senators and representatives that passed legislation in my honor to get me home are heroes. I am in awe of what they all did.”
Fogel, 63, was given a 14-year prison sentence for possessing medical marijuana in 2021. An employee of the Anglo-American School of Moscow, Fogel spent 27 years teaching overseas and was planning to retire the year he was arrested. An American doctor prescribed the marijuana after Fogel had surgeries on his back, shoulder, and knee. The State Department designated Fogel as “wrongfully detained” in December.
“I’m a middle-class schoolteacher who is now in a dream world,” Fogel said, to which Trump quipped: “We’re going to show you the Lincoln bedroom. It’s a special place.”
Fogel is expected to go to Texas for medical evaluation and rehabilitation.
“I love our country,” Fogel added, choking up. “I am so happy to be back here.”

GREECE-RUSSIA-US-CRIME-BITCOIN-LAUNDERING

Who Is The Russian Cybercriminal The United States Exchanged For Marc Fogel?

Brittney Griner

Donald Trump

Hostages

Prisoners

Russia

Viktor Bout, the notorious Russian weapons trafficker who was locked up in the U.S. after being convicted on terrorism charges and who was subsequently released by the Biden-Harris administration, is back to selling weapons to terrorists who are attacking U.S. forces.
The Wall Street Journal <a href="https://www.wsj.com/world/russia/putins-merchant-of-death-is-back-in-the-arms-business-this-time-selling-to-the-houthis-10b7f521">reported</a> that Bout, now back in Russia, is selling weapons to the Houthis, an Iranian-backed terrorist group in Yemen.
The Houthis have launched countless attacks against merchant vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden over the last year, following Hamas&#8217; October 7 terrorist attack.
They have also launched attacks against Israel and U.S. Navy warships. They&#8217;ve also shot down several U.S. surveillance drones that cost more than $30 million each.
The Houthis encountered Bout when they traveled to Moscow a couple of months ago &#8220;to negotiate the purchase of $10 million worth of automatic weapons.&#8221;
Bout claimed in an interview with Russian media that the allegation that he was selling weapons again was &#8220;baseless&#8221; — but he did not directly deny it.
The Houthis were traveling to Moscow under the guise of needing to purchase &#8220;pesticides and vehicles,&#8221; the report said.
The WSJ report said it wasn&#8217;t clear if Bout was acting on behalf of the Russian government or if he merely had its &#8220;tacit approval&#8221; to conduct the negotiation.
The Houthis bought new assault rifles and discussed other weapons they wanted, including &#8220;Kornet antitank missiles and antiaircraft weapons,&#8221; the report said.
Bout was released as part of a prisoner swap in December 2022 for WNBA player Brittney Griner, who was convicted of drug charges in Russia in August 2022.
Bout was convicted on terrorism charges back in 2011 for trying to sell tens of millions of dollars worth of missiles to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) for the purpose of shooting down U.S. Military helicopters.
“Today, one of the world’s most prolific arms dealers is being held accountable for his sordid past,” said then-Attorney General Eric Holder back in November 2011. “Viktor Bout’s arms trafficking activity and support of armed conflicts have been a source of concern around the globe for decades. Today, he faces the prospect of life in prison for his efforts to sell millions of dollars worth of weapons to terrorists for use in killing Americans.”
“As the evidence at trial showed, Viktor Bout was ready to sell a weapons arsenal that would be the envy of some small countries,” said then-U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Preet Bharara. “He aimed to sell those weapons to terrorists for the purpose of killing Americans. With today’s swift verdict, justice has been done and a very dangerous man will be behind bars. I would like to acknowledge the extraordinary efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents who investigated this case on three different continents and helped to bring Viktor Bout to justice.”

RUSSIA-POLITICS-VOTE

Russian Terrorist Freed By Biden-Harris Is Back To Selling Weapons To Terrorists Attacking U.S. Navy

Biden-Harris administration

Houthis

Terrorism

World

An American teacher who has been imprisoned in Russia for three years told his family he “feels like” his “soul is dead” after being excluded from last week’s prisoner swap.
“I cannot believe this,” Marc Fogel said on a Saturday call to his family, a recording of which was obtained by The Daily Wire. “I just don’t even want to get out of bed. I am shocked and sickened and out of breath and energy.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Marc Fogel, an American teacher imprisoned in Russia for the last three years, said he &#8220;feels like&#8221; his &#8220;soul is dead&#8221; after he was excluded from last week&#8217;s prisoner swap.
We obtained a recording of his call with his family, reacting to the news that he won&#8217;t be going home: <a href="https://t.co/3JHlbJHHXN">pic.twitter.com/3JHlbJHHXN</a>
— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDailyWire/status/1820912489078350085?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 6, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The 63-year-old was given a 14-year prison sentence for possessing medical marijuana in 2021. An employee of Anglo-American School of Moscow, Fogel spent 27 years teaching overseas, and was planning to retire the year he was arrested. An American doctor prescribed the marijuana after Fogel had surgeries on his back, shoulder, and knee.
Fogel told his family he felt “like a second-class citizen” as the Biden-Harris administration prioritized the release of high-profile prisoners like WNBA player Brittney Griner in and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, the latter of whom was included in the August swamp.
“I think that teachers have just been shat upon,” Fogel said. “It’s hard to have any faith,” Fogel said.
Fogel’s family echoed this point in a statement following the swap.
“Marc is not rich, a celebrity, or connected to powerful patrons &#8230; This fight has been met &#8230; with stonewalling, double standards and — today — abandoning Marc to die in prison.”
On Friday, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan dismissed the Fogel family’s comments on the Today Show, saying it was “not a responsible statement.”
Sullivan, who said he “personally worked on” Fogel’s case, said former Marine Paul Whelan, who was also released on Thursday, “is not powerful or politically connected.”
But Free Marc Fogel spokesperson Vicki Iseman told The Daily Wire that Whelan had multiple governments pushing for his release, since he is also a citizen of the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Canada.
At one point in the call, Fogel asks if it is true non-U.S. citizens were released in the deal.
“I hate to tell you this, but yes,” Iseman responded.
Human rights advocate and United States resident Vladimir Kara-Murza was among those released as part of the multi-country swap along with Russian opposition figures, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/01/world/who-are-detainees-russia-us-prisoner-swap-intl/index.html">CNN reported.</a>
The Fogel family has been lobbying the Biden-Harris administration to give Marc “wrongfully detained” status, which would allow for the government to provide financial support for Fogel’s medical care and other needs. Griner, Whalen, and Gershkovich all received the “wrongfully detained” designation.
The State Department has resisted pressure to give Fogel the designation without explanation, saying they are pushing for his release on humanitarian grounds.
Russia has never released an American prisoner on humanitarian grounds, and formally denied the State Department’s request, Iseman said.
“I think we knew this administration is just not going to be there for you,” Isemand told Fogel. “I don’t know why, but regardless of that, there will be a new administration.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Malphine Fogel, whose son has been in a Russian prison for 3 years, says she was devastated that he was excluded from the prisoner exchange. She also says she never even heard from Biden.
Trump met with her before his rally in Butler, PA and promised to free her son if he wins. <a href="https://t.co/iEgxOPQIjA">pic.twitter.com/iEgxOPQIjA</a>
— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDailyWire/status/1819503952917844310?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 2, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The Fogel family has intensified their efforts to secure Marc’s release in recent months, as the latter’s deteriorating health has repeatedly landed him in the jail’s hospital.
Fogel’s 95-year-old mother, Malphine, last month met with former President Donald Trump, who told her he would do everything he could to free her son if elected in November.
Malphine was scheduled to appear <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-trump-rally-vip-recounts-heroism-amid-assassination-attempt-chaos">on stage</a> with Trump at the Butler, Pennsylvania rally where a would-be assassin fired at Trump. Fogel was standing about 25 feet away from Trump when the shots rang out.
Malphine Fogel told The Daily Wire last week that it was “gut-wrenching” to see her son not included in the swap. 
Iseman told Fogel to have hope during the call, reminding him of Trump’s promise of support.
“We’ve gone too far for you not to hang in there,” Malphine said. “We have to do the best we can and you have to do your part.”
“I love you mom,” Fogel responded.
The State Department declined to comment on this story.

Cover images-39

‘My Soul Is Dead’: American Teacher Speaks From Russian Prison After Exclusion From Prisoner Swap

Evan Gershkovich

Jake Sullivan

NBA star <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/lebron-james-says-brittney-griner-shouldnt-even-want-to-come-back-to-america" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LeBron James</a> is taking heat online for walking into his son&#8217;s college basketball game and taking a seat while the National Anthem was playing.
The 34-second video clip, which notably does not show the entire playing of the anthem, went viral, racking up more than 3.9 million views on X in under 24 hours. Most commenters were displeased with James&#8217; actions, qualifying them as <a href="https://twitter.com/JohnDMacari/status/1734916899081736454" target="_blank" rel="noopener">disrespectful</a>, though in lockstep with the baller&#8217;s past actions and comments about the U.S.
&#8220;LeBron James casually walks into the basketball arena while the National Anthem is playing and takes a seat,&#8221; conservative Collin Rugg captioned the video, which was captured by O.C. Register reporter Luca Evans.
&#8220;Zero respect for the country that gave him the opportunity to be a basketball star,&#8221; Rugg added. &#8220;Zero respect for the country that allowed him to become a billionaire. Zero respect for the men and women who defend our country so he can live his life. Shameful.&#8221;
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
LeBron James casually walks into the basketball arena while the National Anthem is playing and takes a seat.
Zero respect for the country that gave him the opportunity to be a basketball star.
Zero respect for the country that allowed him to become a billionaire.
Zero respect… <a href="https://t.co/NaTmdeOabx">https://t.co/NaTmdeOabx</a>
&mdash; Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) <a href="https://twitter.com/CollinRugg/status/1734742092411478432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Just last year, James <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/lebron-james-says-brittney-griner-shouldnt-even-want-to-come-back-to-america" target="_blank" rel="noopener">suggested</a> that WNBA star Brittney Griner, who was being detained by Russia at the time, shouldn&#8217;t even want to come back to America.
“Now, how can she feel like America has her back?” James said. “I would be feeling like, ‘Do I even want to go back to America?&#8217;”
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Griner was arrested in Russia, back in February 2022, after being caught with marijuana vaping materials. She was sentenced to nine years behind bars but was freed months later in a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/wnba-star-brittney-griner-freed-from-russian-prison-in-swap-for-arms-dealer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">controversial prisoner exchange</a> for a notorious Russian arms dealer.
Two years earlier, James claimed the U.S. was a racist and oppressive country.
“It’s just heartbreaking,&#8221; James <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/lebron-on-black-lives-matter-in-america-there-aint-been-no-damn-movement-for-us" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> at the time. &#8220;You guys don’t understand. Unless you’re a person of color, you guys don’t understand. I understand you might feel for us. But you will never truly understand what it is to be black in America.”
&#8220;No, this is a walk of life,&#8221; the athlete added about the Black Lives Matter movement. &#8220;When you wake up and you’re black, that is what it is. It shouldn’t be a movement. It should be a lifestyle. This is who we are. … I don’t like the word ‘movement’ because, unfortunately, in America and in society, there ain’t been no damn movement for us. There ain’t been no movement.&#8221;
“You know what’s going on now. Is that progress? I think we can all say that’s not progress,&#8221; he said. &#8220;The conversations being had right now and how many people are really listening or just having the conversations of trying to make things happen, that’s progress. We got a long way to go.&#8221;
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/lebron-james-founded-a-school-based-on-equity-it-is-an-unmitigated-disaster" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LeBron James Founded A School Based On Equity. It Is An Unmitigated Disaster.</a>

Lakers’ LeBron Jame watches the game between the USC Trojans and the Long Beach State 49ers during the first half at Galen Center in Los Angeles Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023.

‘Shameful’: Video Goes Viral Of LeBron James Ignoring, Sitting During National Anthem At Son’s USC Game

Video Goes Viral Of LeBron James Ignoring, Sitting During National Anthem Son’s USC Game

LeBron James

Sports

U.S.

U.S. Marine veteran Trevor Reed, who was released from a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/russia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Russian</a> prison in exchange for a convicted Russian drug trafficker, has been injured while fighting in Ukraine, the State Department reportedly said on Tuesday.
&#8220;We&#8217;re aware that Trevor Reed was injured while participating in fighting in Ukraine,&#8221; a Biden administration official told <a href="https://themessenger.com/news/freed-in-russia-prisoner-swap-u-s-marine-injured-serving-as-mercenary-in-ukraine-exclusive?utm_source=onsite&amp;utm_medium=latest_news" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Messenger</a>.
State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trevor-reed-russia-prisoner-marine-ukraine-bdfe9b245571f479c25a09d1872ac726" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Associated Press</a> in a statement that Reed did not engage in any activities on behalf of the U.S. government.
&#8220;As I indicated, we have been incredibly clear warning American citizens, American nationals, not to travel to Ukraine, let alone participate in fighting,&#8221; Patel said. &#8220;As you know, we are not in a place to provide assistance to evacuate private U.S. citizens from Ukraine, including those Americans who may decide to travel to Ukraine to participate in fighting.&#8221;
According to reports, Reed sustained shrapnel wounds from an explosion several weeks ago and was treated in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, before requesting military medical assistance in Germany or Poland.
Reed was released by Russian authorities last year after serving approximately three years in prison. Reed was charged with violence committed against Russian police officers after a night of drinking in Moscow. According to The Messenger, Reed allegedly grabbed an officer driving a police vehicle, causing the officer to swerve dangerously.
Russian authorities sentenced Reed to nine years in prison despite his denying the allegations.
U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan called the trial &#8220;so preposterous that they provoked laughter in the courtroom. Even the judge laughed,&#8221; according to The Messenger.
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Last year, the Biden administration struck a surprise deal with Russia amid its international conflict with Ukraine. The Russian drug trafficker exchanged in the prisoner swap was Konstantin Yaroshenko, who was serving a 20-year sentence for a conviction of conspiring to smuggle more than $100 million worth of cocaine into the U.S.
Upon returning to the U.S., Reed reportedly joined a group of outside freelance fighters to connect with Ukrainian forces at some point last year.
Russian officials also arrested American journalist Evan Gershkovich on espionage charges earlier this year while he was on a reporting trip in Yekaterinburg, located in the Ural Mountains — becoming the first arrest of an American journalist on espionage charges since 1986.
In addition to Gerschkovich, Russia is also holding U.S. Marine veteran Paul Whelan, who has been imprisoned in Russia for nearly four years and is currently serving 16 years in a penal colony for a crime that he says never happened.
Last year, U.S. officials swapped American WNBA player Brittney Griner, who was held prisoner in Russia after she pleaded guilty to drug charges, with international arms dealer Viktor Bout, also known as the &#8220;Merchant of Death.&#8221;

RUSSIA-US-COURT

U.S. Marine Veteran Trevor Reed, Ex-Russian Prisoner Exchanged For Drug Trafficker, Injured While Fighting In Ukraine: Report

Freed Russian Prisoner U.S. Marine Vet Trevor Reed Injured While Fighting In Ukraine: Report

Biden Administration

Global Politics

Ukraine-Russia War

Former ESPN reporter Charly Arnolt slammed her former employer, WNBA player <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/kjp-gushes-over-griners-release-an-important-role-model-for-lgbtqi-americans-and-women-of-color" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brittney Griner</a>, transgender swimmer Lia Thomas, and retired professional soccer player <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/riley-gaines-rips-megan-rapinoe-for-attacking-bill-protecting-womens-sports" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Megan Rapinoe</a> during a recent interview.
The 35-year-old sports broadcaster and TV personality spoke <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/othersports/article-12089535/Lia-Thomas-biggest-bigot-Brittney-Griner-puppet-Biden-Administration.html">exclusively</a> to the Daily Mail, saying for five years she couldn&#8217;t be her true self while working for the sports television network, and she&#8217;s done holding back, offering opinions on several controversial athletes.
Arnolt criticized Griner, who spent nearly a year detained in Russia, for saying it was a &#8220;crime&#8221; not to allow biological men to compete in women&#8217;s sports.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
EXCLUSIVE: &#39;Brittney Griner is a PUPPET for the Biden Administration, Lia Thomas is a bigot,&#39; says Charly Arnolt <a href="https://t.co/kzo9BmybwF">https://t.co/kzo9BmybwF</a> <a href="https://t.co/3GmE62DKpn">pic.twitter.com/3GmE62DKpn</a>
&mdash; Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) <a href="https://twitter.com/MailOnline/status/1660630858015948801?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 22, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;Brittney Griner should be very thankful that she wouldn&#8217;t have had that obstacle leading up to this point because she might not be playing in the WNBA if she would have,&#8221; said Arnolt.
&#8220;I also think that just calling it a crime is taking it one step further, and that&#8217;s the scary part, is now it&#8217;s not just saying, &#8216;Oh, this is wrong,&#8217; we&#8217;re criminalizing,&#8221; she added. &#8220;It&#8217;s very much the Left&#8217;s disposition to take dissenting viewpoints and criminalize them.&#8221;
Arnolt went on to describe Thomas, a biological male who identifies as transgender and competed on the University of Pennsylvania&#8217;s women&#8217;s swim team, as the &#8220;biggest bigot that I have encountered in recent times because [Thomas] is forcing [the swimmer&#8217;s] own beliefs onto other people and saying that if you don&#8217;t believe in this, then you&#8217;re a hateful person.&#8221;
&#8220;You [Thomas] were a mediocre athlete in terms of male competition, and then you decided that you wanted to jump up the ladder and enter into the women&#8217;s competition,&#8221; she added. &#8220;You are built differently than a woman.&#8221;
&#8220;Anyone who tries to make the argument that there is a gender spectrum, you can believe whatever you want, but science will tell you, the DNA will tell you, there was a man and there was a woman,&#8221; Arnolt continued. &#8220;I don&#8217;t care how you want to identify; at ground zero, that&#8217;s who you are. I find it offensive as a woman when a man decides that just because they have decided to live their life and identify differently, that now they can enter into a space that belongs to women that they have fought so hard for and just completely obliterate the success and opportunities that they should have.&#8221;
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The broadcaster felt similar about Rapinoe, who she blasted for supporting the rights of biological males who identify as transgender to participate in women&#8217;s sports.
&#8220;Suddenly she&#8217;s turning around after she retires from playing for the national team and says, &#8216;Yeah, I totally I totally believe that males should be able to play with women,'&#8221; the sports reporter said of Rapinoe.
&#8220;She&#8217;s promoted equality and women&#8217;s rights and the ability to be able to share in their success, that is almost completely the opposite to what she&#8217;s put forth,&#8221; Arnolt added.

Charly Arnolt-1

Former ESPN Reporter Slams Network, Brittney Griner, Lia Thomas, And Megan Rapinoe

Celebrities

Entertainment

ESPN

Joe Biden

Lia Thomas

Megan Rapinoe

WNBA player Brittney Griner says her time in a Russian prison has <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/sports/brittney-griner-discusses-national-anthem-stance-return-i-definitely-want-stand?intcmp=fb_fnc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">changed her perspective</a> on the American flag and the national anthem: after <a href="https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/ej-montini/2023/05/16/brittney-griner-national-anthem-flipflop-american/70221726007/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">promising to protest</a> the traditional pregame anthem in 2020, she said this season she is ready to stand.
The Phoenix Mercury star center spent nearly ten months imprisoned in Russia after she was caught in February of 2022 at Moscow&#8217;s Sheremetyevo Airport — while traveling to play basketball — with cannabis oil in vape canisters. She was returned to the United States after President Joe Biden&#8217;s administration agreed to trade convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout to secure her freedom.
When she was finally able to return to play basketball, however, she said that the national anthem &#8220;hit different&#8221; than it had before her arrest. She explained that while she would never tell others that they should not protest in whatever way they saw fit, she was ready to stand for the anthem when it played.
&#8220;You have the right to protest, the right to able to speak out, question, challenge and do all these things. What I went through and everything, it just means a little bit more to me now. So I want to be able to stand. I was literally in a cage [in Russia] and could not stand the way I wanted to,&#8221; she <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/37688877/welcome-back-griner-marks-wnba-homecoming-vp-hand" target="_blank" rel="noopener">explained to ESPN</a>.
&#8220;Just being able to hear my national anthem, see my flag, I definitely want to stand. Now everybody that will not stand or not come out, I totally support them 100 percent. That&#8217;s our right, as an American in this great country.&#8221;
&#8220;I appreciate everything a little bit more, all of the small moments, like, ‘Oh, I’m so tired I don’t want to go to practice today,’ that has changed, honestly. Tomorrow is not guaranteed, you don’t know what it’s going to look like. I feel a lot older somehow, too,&#8221; she said.
Griner had opted not to stand for the anthem in 2020, saying that if the league continued to play it prior to every game, she simply would not come out to the court until it was over.

Phoenix Mercury v Los Angeles Sparks

‘I Definitely Want To Stand’: Brittney Griner Sees U.S. Flag And Anthem Differently After Russian Imprisonment

Brittney Griner Sees The U.S. Flag And Anthem Differently After Russian Imprisonment

American Flag

National Anthem

Former NCAA star swimmer Riley Gaines slammed Brittney Griner over the weekend after the WNBA star claimed that it was a &#8220;crime&#8221; to stop transgender athletes from competing against biological females in women&#8217;s sports.
Griner, who was freed from a Russian prison late last year in a prisoner swap for a notorious Russian terrorist, decried during a press conference last week legislation being pushed across the U.S. that aims to protect biological females from having to compete against biological males.
&#8220;Which NBA team would have @brittneygriner since apparently the overwhelming, obvious differences between men and women should simply be overlooked?&#8221; Gaines tweeted. &#8220;Heartbreaking to see athletically successful women take this demeaning stance.&#8221;
&#8220;And if we&#8217;re going to talk about crimes, Brittney&#8230;&#8221; Gaines added.
Griner was arrested in Russia last year on drug charges.
“You’ve always represented so much throughout your entire career about access and, you know, being able to do stuff, and I hate to put one more thing on your plate, but there have been a number of states who are aggressively moving to prevent transgender athletes from playing,” Bill Rhoden from ESPN <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/brittney-griner-its-a-crime-to-stop-biological-males-from-competing-against-women">said</a> to Griner on Thursday.
“And I was wondering, again, I’d hate to put one more thing on your plate, but in terms of on your radar, where is that?” he asked. “You’re gonna have a tremendous platform, but where is that going to be on your radar in terms of advocating for athletes, all transgender athletes being able to play?”
Griner responded, “I mean, that ranks high on the list of things that I’ll be fighting for and speaking up against, you know, everyone has, everyone deserves the right to play, everyone deserves the right to come here, sit in these seats and feel safe and not feel like there’s a threat or they can’t be who they are or, um, like it’s just all eyes on them.”
“So, I think it’s a crime, honestly, to, to separate someone for any reason,” Griner claimed. “So, I definitely will be speaking up against those, that legislation, and those laws that are trying to be passed for sure.”
WATCH:
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Brittney Griner claims it’s a “crime” to stop biological males from being able to compete against women in sports. <a href="https://t.co/CTM9mV9nDz">pic.twitter.com/CTM9mV9nDz</a>
&mdash; Jason Rantz on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) <a href="https://twitter.com/jasonrantz/status/1651755021363712004?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 28, 2023</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

US-POLITICS-CORRESPONDENTS

Riley Gaines Torches Brittney Griner For Calling It A ‘Crime’ To Protect Women’s Sports From Men

Riley Gaines

Transgender Athletes

WNBA star Brittney Griner, who was freed from a Russian prison late last year in a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/wnba-star-brittney-griner-freed-from-russian-prison-in-swap-for-arms-dealer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">prisoner swap</a> for a notorious Russian terrorist, decried legislation being pushed across the U.S. that aims to protect biological females from having to compete against biological males.
Bill Rhoden from ESPN asked Griner about the matter during a press conference on Thursday. &#8220;You&#8217;ve always represented so much throughout your entire career about access and, you know, being able to do stuff, and I hate to put one more thing on your plate, but there have been a number of states who are aggressively moving to prevent transgender athletes from playing,&#8221; he began.
&#8220;And I was wondering, again, I&#8217;d hate to put one more thing on your plate, but in terms of on your radar, where is that?&#8221; he asked. &#8220;You&#8217;re gonna have a tremendous platform, but where is that going to be on your radar in terms of advocating for athletes, all transgender athletes being able to play?&#8221;
Griner responded, &#8220;I mean, that ranks high on the list of things that I&#8217;ll be fighting for and speaking up against, you know, everyone has, everyone deserves the right to play, everyone deserves the right to come here, sit in these seats and feel safe and not feel like there&#8217;s a threat or they can&#8217;t be who they are or, um, like it&#8217;s just all eyes on them.&#8221;
&#8220;So, I think it&#8217;s a crime, honestly, to, to separate someone for any reason,&#8221; Griner claimed. &#8220;So, I definitely will be speaking up against those, that legislation, and those laws that are trying to be passed for sure.&#8221;
WATCH:
<a class="c-link" href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://onelink.to/dwapp" data-sk="tooltip_parent" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-9125">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP</a>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Brittney Griner claims it’s a “crime” to stop biological males from being able to compete against women in sports. <a href="https://t.co/CTM9mV9nDz">pic.twitter.com/CTM9mV9nDz</a>
&mdash; Jason Rantz on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) <a href="https://twitter.com/jasonrantz/status/1651755021363712004?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 28, 2023</a></blockquote>
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BASKET-WNBA-GRINER

Brittney Griner: It’s A ‘Crime’ To Stop Biological Males From Competing Against Women

Brittney Griner: It's A 'Crime' To Stop Biological Males From Competing Against Women

LGBTQ

Politics

Social Issues

Transgender

WNBA player Brittney Griner made an appearance at a Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade in Phoenix, Arizona, a month after being <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/wnba-star-brittney-griner-freed-from-russian-prison-in-swap-for-arms-dealer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">released</a> from a Russian jail in a prisoner swap.
Griner appeared in the parade on Monday with her wife, Cherelle, reportedly telling fans she was glad to be home.
Local reporter Jonathan McCall shared an image and video with Griner at the parade on Twitter.
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HAPPY TO BE HOME: <a href="https://twitter.com/PhoenixMercury?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PhoenixMercury</a> star <a href="https://twitter.com/brittneygriner?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@brittneygriner</a> makes appearance at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AZMLK?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AZMLK</a> Festival in Phoenix. 
BG posed for pictures with fans. 
Talked about being Houstonians.
Says she’s happy to be home after time in Russian prison.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/News?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#News</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AZ?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AZ</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BG42?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BG42</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hoops?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Hoops</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WNBA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WNBA</a> <a href="https://t.co/G2ocB8fEqO">pic.twitter.com/G2ocB8fEqO</a>
&mdash; Jonathan McCall (@JonathanMcCall) <a href="https://twitter.com/JonathanMcCall/status/1615095676404404226?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Griner was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/report-wnba-star-detained-in-russia-on-drug-charges-could-face-up-to-10-years-in-prison" target="_blank" rel="noopener">arrested</a> in February in a Moscow airport after vaping cartridges containing hashish oil were found in her luggage. She was later <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/wnba-star-brittney-griner-sentenced-to-9-years-in-russian-prison" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sentenced</a> to more than nine years in a decision many argued was politically motivated.
The Mercury Phoenix center&#8217;s arrest occurred shortly before Russia <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-russia-begins-full-scale-invasion-into-ukraine-putin-confirms-military-operation-underway" target="_blank" rel="noopener">invaded</a> Ukraine in February. President Joe Biden spoke out against Russia&#8217;s invasion, with the U.S. providing <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/senate-advances-massive-40-billion-ukraine-spending-package-11-republicans-oppose" target="_blank" rel="noopener">billions of dollars</a> in support to Ukraine.
Griner was released in December in a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/video-emerges-of-brittney-griner-being-swapped-for-russian-terrorist-critics-instantly-notice-problem" target="_blank" rel="noopener">prisoner swap</a> for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, also known as the “Merchant of Death.”
The two-time Olympic gold medalist wrote a post on Instagram to celebrate her freedom last month.
&#8220;It feels so good to be home! The last 10 months have been a battle at every turn. I dug deep to keep my faith and it was the love from so many of you that helped keep me going. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone for your help,&#8221; Griner <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CmPAWB5O8F1/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted</a> in December.
Griner also commented on her return to the basketball court next season.
&#8220;I also want to make one thing very clear: I intend to play basketball for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury this season, and in doing so, I look forward to being able to say ‘thank you’ to those of you who advocated, wrote, and posted for me in person soon,&#8221; she added in the Instagram post.
Bout was serving a 25-year prison sentence in the U.S. for conspiring to kill Americans, delivery of anti-aircraft missiles, and aiding a terrorist organization.
Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was among those who spoke out against the Biden administration&#8217;s strategy in the prisoner swap.
“We weren’t going to trade bad guys for celebrities because it creates the wrong incentives for the bad guys. As we go forward, it’s not good for American national security. It’s not good for people who are traveling across the world,” he <a href="https://twitter.com/FoxNewsSunday/status/1601983971520569345" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
Others have also expressed <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pompeo-blasts-griner-prisoner-swap-bad-guys-for-celebrities-sends-wrong-message" target="_blank" rel="noopener">frustration</a> that former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan remains imprisoned in Russia and was not freed during the negotiations to secure Griner&#8217;s release.
“I am greatly disappointed that more has not been done to secure my release, especially as the four-year anniversary of my arrest is coming up. I was arrested for a crime that never occurred,” Whelan <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/08/politics/paul-whelan-cnn-interview-brittney-griner/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. “I don’t understand why I’m still sitting here.”

WNBA’s Brittney Griner Makes MLK Day Appearance In Arizona

Arizona

WNBA

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo blasted the Biden administration over its recent prisoner swap of Russian &#8220;Merchant of Death&#8221; arms dealer Viktor Bout for American WNBA player Brittney Griner.
Pompeo shared his criticisms during an interview on &#8220;Fox News Sunday&#8221; with Shannon Bream.
“We weren’t going to trade bad guys for celebrities because it creates the wrong incentives for the bad guys. As we go forward, it’s not good for American national security. It’s not good for people who are traveling across the world,” Pompeo said.
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WATCH: Former Secretary of State <a href="https://twitter.com/mikepompeo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mikepompeo</a> joined <a href="https://twitter.com/ShannonBream?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ShannonBream</a> on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FoxNewsSunday?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FoxNewsSunday</a> to react to Brittney Griner&#39;s release and China&#39;s developing relationship with Saudi Arabia. Plus, he shares his thoughts on the future of the Republican Party as well as his 2024 plans. <a href="https://t.co/gGjEzcy54n">pic.twitter.com/gGjEzcy54n</a>
&mdash; Fox News Sunday (@FoxNewsSunday) <a href="https://twitter.com/FoxNewsSunday/status/1601983971520569345?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Griner was released after being detained in Russia for ten months for bringing cannabis oil cartridges into the country just ahead of the Kremlin&#8217;s invasion of Ukraine.
The Phoenix Mercury star was later sentenced to nine years in a Russian penal colony. The Biden administration held months of talks with Russian leaders to negotiate Griner&#8217;s release.
Griner&#8217;s prison swap was announced on Thursday. Some Americans celebrated her freedom, but many were critical of the trade.
Bout was serving a 25-year prison sentence in the U.S. on charges of conspiring to kill Americans, delivery of anti-aircraft missiles, and aiding a terrorist organization. Some worries remain that the Merchant of Death could soon return to his former ways.
&#8220;[W]e cannot ignore that releasing Bout back into the world is a deeply disturbing decision,&#8221; Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) said in a <a href="https://www.menendez.senate.gov/newsroom/press/chairman-menendez-statement-on-the-release-of-brittney-griner" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>. &#8220;We must stop inviting dictatorial and rogue regimes to use Americans overseas as bargaining chips, and we must try do (sic) better at encouraging American citizens against traveling to places like Russia where they are primary targets for this type of unlawful detention.&#8221;
Former DEA agent Robert Zachariasiewicz told the Washington Post that he opposed the prisoner swap over the message it could send to Russian leaders.
“We just showed that it is really useful to have an American in your back pocket because you never know when you need them to trade,” Zachariasiewicz <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/12/09/brittney-griner-viktor-bout-paul-whelan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
Former National Security Advisor John Bolton also criticized the agreement.
“This is not a deal. This is not a swap. This is a surrender. And terrorists and rogue states all around the world will take note of this, and it endangers other Americans in the future who can be grabbed and used as bargaining chips by people who don’t have the same morals and scruples that we do,” Bolton <a href="https://nypost.com/2022/12/08/trump-turned-down-viktor-bout-for-paul-whelan-prisoner-swap-john-bolton/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> during a CBS interview.
Others have expressed frustration that former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan remains imprisoned in Russia and was not part of the deal.
“I am greatly disappointed that more has not been done to secure my release, especially as the four-year anniversary of my arrest is coming up. I was arrested for a crime that never occurred,” Whelan <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/08/politics/paul-whelan-cnn-interview-brittney-griner/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. “I don’t understand why I’m still sitting here.”

Mike Pompeo

Pompeo Blasts Griner Prisoner Swap: ‘Bad Guys For Celebrities’ Sends Wrong Message

Pompeo Blasts Griner Prisoner Swap

Executive

Fox News Sunday

National Security Council Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby defended the Biden administration’s prisoner swap of notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout for American WNBA player Brittney Griner. 
Appearing Sunday on ABC’s “This Week” with host Martha Raddatz, Kirby responded to bipartisan criticism of the exchange, specifically reacting to Sen. Bob Menendez&#8217;s (D-NJ) remarks calling it a “deeply disturbing decision.” 
“He would have gone free anyway in 2029,” Kirby said in response. “He wasn’t serving a life sentence.” 
Raddatz pushed back on his statement, saying, “that’s a long way away.” 
“It’s six years away,” Kirby replied. “And nobody’s doing backflips over there about the fact that Mr. Bout is a free man six years earlier than he would have been.” 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
&quot;Nobody’s doing back flips over there about the fact” Viktor Bout was released early, WH&#39;s John Kirby tells <a href="https://twitter.com/MarthaRaddatz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MarthaRaddatz</a>.
“If Mr. Bout decides to go back to his previous line of work, then we’re going to do what we need to do to hold him accountable.” <a href="https://t.co/vY0BbWFHCJ">https://t.co/vY0BbWFHCJ</a> <a href="https://t.co/lNl9HSBVv2">pic.twitter.com/lNl9HSBVv2</a>
&mdash; This Week (@ThisWeekABC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ThisWeekABC/status/1601951055939616769?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Griner was arrested in February at a Moscow airport after being caught with marijuana vaping materials and sentenced to nine years in prison in August. Bout was <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/international-arms-dealer-viktor-bout-convicted-new-york-terrorism-crimes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">convicted</a> in 2011 of conspiring to sell millions of dollars worth of weapons to a designated foreign terrorist group to be used to kill Americans.
Kirby insisted, “we’re going to protect our national security&#8221; while Bout is free. 
&#8220;If Mr. Bout goes back to his previous line of work, then we’re going to do what we need to do to hold him accountable and protect our interests.” 
President Joe Biden has been slammed for the deal as many Americans are upset that former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan remains detained in Russia. Whelan has been jailed <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/madness-even-biden-doj-officials-calling-foul-on-griner-swap-for-merchant-of-death" target="_blank" rel="noopener">since</a> 2018 on espionage charges that the U.S. government says are baseless.
Sen. Menendez released a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/top-democrat-senator-blasts-biden-over-releasing-terrorist-for-griner-deeply-disturbing-decision" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> last week saying, “The Russians and other regimes that take American citizens hostage cannot pretend that there is equivalence between the Brittney Griners of the world and people like Viktor Bout, the so-called ‘Merchant of Death.’”
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) <a href="https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2022/12/08/mccarthy_griner_was_jailed_for_a_trumped-up_charge_but_to_exchange_her_for_merchant_of_death_makes_us_weaker.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">called</a> the one-for-one exchange a “big win for [Russian President Vladimir] Putin” and said that Biden “left a Marine behind.” 
Raddatz pressed Kirby on critics who said American negotiators weren’t “tough enough.” Kirby responded, “They weren’t in the room. They weren’t on the phone,” and added that negotiators pushed for the release of both Griner and Whelan.

White House Holds Press Briefing

‘He Would Have Gone Free Anyway In 2029’: John Kirby Responds To Critics Of Swapping Viktor Bout For Brittney Griner

John Kirby Responds To Critics Of Releasing Viktor Bout For Brittney Griner

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