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The Memo: Why Brittney Griner is a political problem for Biden
Google News ^ | BY NIALL STANAGE 07/05/22 06:43 PM ET

Posted on 07/05/2022 9:09:54 PM PDT by 11th_VA

The public outcry around the plight of Brittney Griner is growing louder — and that spells trouble for President Biden, who has been unable to free the basketball star from detention in Russia.

Griner wrote to Biden in recent days saying she was “terrified I might be here forever”.

Her wife, Cherelle, appears to have lost patience with the administration to take a low-profile approach to Brittney’s jailing.

On Tuesday, Cherelle Griner told “CBS Mornings” that it was “very disheartening” not to have heard from Biden directly.

Cherelle Griner added: “It kills me every time that, you know, when I have to write [Brittney] and she’s asking, ‘Have you met with them yet?’ And I have to say no.”

Rev. Al Sharpton, generally a staunch defender of Biden, is seeking the administration’s help in securing a clergy visit to see Griner in Moscow.

In an interview with this column, Sharpton said that he had spoken with Cherelle Griner both on the phone and on his radio show last week…

Her plight poses several interlinked problems for the White House.

First, given the war in Ukraine, it seems highly implausible that Russian authorities will be inclined to release Griner for the sake of goodwill.

Second, the idea that Moscow might be able to use Griner as leverage to obtain the release of Viktor Bout, an infamous Russian arms dealer nicknamed ‘The Merchant of Death’ is unpalatable, both morally and politically. Bout was sentenced to 25 years on terrorism charges in a 2012 trial in New York.

Thirdly, there are particular sensitivities raised by the failure to obtain the release of Griner, a Black, gay woman.

’ On Monday, Griner’s head coach with the Phoenix Mercury, Vanessa Nygaard, told reporters: “If it was LeBron [James], he’d be home, right?” …

(Excerpt) Read more at news.google.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2012; alsharpton; basketball; billrichardson; drugs; gaylobby; griner; hashoil; lgbtq; merchantofdeath; phoenixmercury; prisonerswaps; russia; sharpton; shirascheindlin; sports; viktorbout
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Biden's White House senior adviser called 'Squad' members 'f---ing idiots': book [04/25/2022]
CAPTION

Cedric Richmond

61 posted on 07/06/2022 9:04:12 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
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To: 11th_VA

Trump would have freed her by now. And gotten no credit for it. And all that “Putin’s puppet” talk would perk up again.


62 posted on 07/06/2022 9:09:11 AM PDT by x
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To: 11th_VA

I have no sympathy for law-beakers, whether they break established domestic law or the laws of a foreign country. The sense of entitlement expressed by all involved is precious. However, dummy got herself arrested while the U.S. was engaged in trying to involve us in World War Three against the Russians; by providing the Ukrainians with 44 billion dollars in weaponry (to kill Russians)! I ain’t celebrating their un-Godly union, either, by calling one woman the husband and the other “her” wife! That’s just B.S.


63 posted on 07/06/2022 9:36:03 AM PDT by old school
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To: old school

And, by the way, Lebron James would, indeed, have been released by now; because, he’s a commie sympathizer!


64 posted on 07/06/2022 9:41:08 AM PDT by old school
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To: 11th_VA

Where’s LeBron, Harding, and all the other grievence athletes? Taking a dump on America is easy. Criticsizing countries that deserve to be criticsized is another matter.


65 posted on 07/06/2022 10:06:39 AM PDT by jimmygrace
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To: fieldmarshaldj; Impy; NFHale

https://youtu.be/2JpX8TG2x_4


66 posted on 07/06/2022 10:53:59 AM PDT by GOPsterinMA (I'm with Steve McQueen: I live my life for myself and answer to nobody.)
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To: Bob434

lots of those freepers are dead now


67 posted on 07/06/2022 11:37:02 AM PDT by al baby (Hi Mom Hi Dad)
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To: al baby

Yep- there were a lot of tea party freepers back in the day who went to loads of rallies and protests- I’m sure some newer freepers still do- but not like those folks used to-


68 posted on 07/06/2022 11:57:24 AM PDT by Bob434 (.)
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To: 11th_VA

69 posted on 07/06/2022 12:02:07 PM PDT by SIDENET (Whatever they're threatening, the vaxx is worse...or they wouldn't be threatening you.)
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To: 11th_VA

70 posted on 07/07/2022 3:37:00 AM PDT by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
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To: 11th_VA

Millionaires treated badly.


71 posted on 07/07/2022 3:40:55 AM PDT by Mashood
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To: 11th_VA

Send Rapinoe over to comfort her and keep her company.


72 posted on 07/07/2022 3:46:35 AM PDT by Joe 6-pack
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To: All

She got caught smuggling dope into Russia. Gotta be smarter than that. Now she’s a “victim” because she’s black and queer. I remember when the media was cheer-leading the straight white kid getting caned for breaking laws.


73 posted on 07/07/2022 3:49:39 AM PDT by newnhdad (Our new motto: USA, it was fun while it lasted.)
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To: cgbg

That is why Biden is sending the Epstein pal, our crooked old nuclear negotiator Bill Richardson, to do the job.


74 posted on 07/10/2022 4:41:26 PM PDT by piasa (Attitude adjustments offered here free of charge)
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To: 11th_VA
ny-times-griner-trade
75 posted on 07/11/2022 11:55:58 AM PDT by doug from upland (LET'S GO BRANDON)
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