WNBA star Brittney Griner has been released from Russian detention ten months after she was arrested for vape cartridges containing cannabis oil. Her release comes after the United States agreed to release notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout a.k.a. the "Merchant of Death."
"She is safe, she is on a plane, she is on her way home," President Joe Biden announced at a White House press conference Thursday morning. "She will soon be back in the arms of her loved ones, and she should have been there all along."
Brittney's wife, Cherelle Griner, was also present at the press conference. Cherelle expressed her gratitude to everyone that was involved in securing Brittney's release and stated, "Today, my family is whole."
Prior to her release, Brittney Griner was serving a nine-year sentence after pleading guilty to her charges in July. Viktor Bout, who is believed to have been the inspiration behind the Nicolas Cage film Lord of War, was serving a 25-year sentence on terrorism charges.
Source: CNN
