Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in southern Lebanon: Israeli artillery shelling targets the outskirts of the town of Shebaa
Al-Qassam Brigades: The targeting took place at the intersection of 'Street 5' with the western line north of Khan Younis
Al-Qassam Brigades: A NIMR armored personnel carrier carrying an Israeli soldier was targeted with an Al-Yassin missile north of Khan Younis
Israeli media: At least two soldiers killed by anti-tank missile fired at Israeli army forces in the Gaza Strip
Local Syrian sources: Mortar shells fell on more than nine villages in the Sweida countryside
Local Syrian sources: Dozens of dead and wounded have arrived at Sweida hospitals as a result of ongoing clashes at several locations in the western Sweida countryside
Local sources: Civilians, including children and women, were injured in the al-Maqous neighborhood of Sweida, in Syria, as a result of ongoing clashes
Israeli media outlet: Security incident reported in the Gaza Strip
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson: No new date or venue has been set for the meeting between Araghchi and Witkoff, and no negotiations will take place until the outcome is guaranteed
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police

Biden faces pressure within administration over Griner release

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 11 Dec 2022 10:43
3 Min Read

Will tensions grow wider between the GOP and democrats over Biden or will his own administration be the end of him?

  • x
  • US President Joe Biden (CNBC)
    US President Joe Biden (CNBC)

Media outlets reported that pressure is looming over US President Joe Biden from his own administration as a result of the prisoner swap between basketball player Brittney Griner from Russia and Russian businessman Viktor Bout.

The “intense and painstaking negotiations” that led to the prisoner swap were praised by Biden on Thursday but, according to a Washington Post report, the US Department of Justice held the belief that the prisoner swap was a mistake due to the large discrepancy of the charges between the two individuals. The Washington Post quoted one department official as saying that “trading a notorious international arms dealer for a basketball player is madness."

The White House denied last Thursday that Saudi Arabia had any involvement with the release of Griner, contradicting a joint statement issued earlier by the president of the UAE and the Saudi Crown Prince that they led mediation efforts to secure Griner's release.

"The only countries that negotiated this deal were the US and Russia," White House Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said when asked about Saudi Arabia's role. "There was no mediation involved."

Related News

Russia in talks over military bases in Syria with new government

Trump approves Patriot missiles to Ukraine, bills EU for costs

'A gift to Vladimir Putin'

However, the case of prisoner Paul Whelan, a US marine veteran serving a 16-year sentence in Russia on espionage charges, has caused a stir and is labeled as being "forgotten". On that, Biden commented “we’ve not forgotten about Paul Whelan, who has been unjustly detained in Russia for years” as he threw blame at Russia for treating Whelan differently than Griner for “totally illegitimate reasons."

It was a one-for-one prisoner exchange as Russia released Griner for Bout, but they refused to release Whelan unless Vadim Krasikov, a former colonel, was also released from custody in Germany. CNN reported that Germany did not show the will to do so. The spy's brother David Whelan did state that the Biden administration's decision to secure Griner’s release was rightly made. 

“He was convicted of conspiring to kill American law enforcement,” soon-to-be House Speaker Kevin McCarthy commented as he expressed fear that Bout will go back to alleged arms dealing, adding, “His release is a gift to Vladimir Putin and a threat to American lives. Leaving Paul Whelan behind for this is unconscionable.”

Republicans have been seeking and using any excuse or mishap to attack Biden and his administration - and the case of Paul Whelan is one of them. 

Griner, who played for Russian side Yekaterinburg during the WNBA off-season, was arrested on February 17 in Russia for possession of cannabis-infused vape cartridges in her luggage. 

Since Cannabis oil is illegal in Russia, Griner was convicted of drug possession and trafficking. She was sentenced on August 4 to nine years behind bars and a fine of 1 million rubles ($16,576) after she pleaded guilty to the charges.

  • Russia
  • US
  • Brittney Griner
  • Prisoner swap
  • Viktor Bout
  • Joe Biden

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS