Brittney Griner, Paul Whelan trade needs to 'get over the line,' even at cost of 'Merchant of Death': experts
Fox News
Former State Department official Joel Rubin criticized Putin for using Brittney Griner as a tool to "embarrass" the United States and urged officials to complete the swap.
Peter Aitken is a Fox News Digital reporter with a focus on national and global news.
Griner, who pleaded guilty to drug charges July 7, has been held in Russia since February after Russian authorities say they found vape cartridges containing hashish oil in her luggage.
The guilty plea does not bring an end to the case, but some have suggested it could speed up the process along with Griner’s exit from prison. She could make herself eligible for a prisoner swap between Moscow and Washington, D.C., and last week the Biden administration offered a "substantial proposal" to "facilitate" Griner and Whelan’s release.