NOVI, Mich. – The White House is reportedly offering a prisoner swap with Russia, offering an arms dealer known as “The Merchant of Death” in hopes of bringing Novi native Paul Whelan and WNBA star Brittney Griner back home.
Whelan has spent the last three and a half years behind bars in Russia on accusations of being a spy. He was sentenced in 2020 to 16 years in prison on those espionage charges, but he and his family have maintained his innocence.
Griner has been in Russian custody for the last month. She acknowledged that she accidentally had vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage when she arrived in Moscow in February, but she said she had no criminal intent.
The U.S. is willing to give the Russians Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer nicknamed “The Merchant of Death.” Bout is spending 25 years behind bars for trying to sell millions of dollars in weapons, officials said.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed the deal has been on the table for “awhile.” As of right now, Russia has yet to respond to the United States’ offer.
Blinken is hoping to get an answer from Russia and plans to speak with a top Russian official for the first time since the invasion of Ukraine, he said.
