Biden swaps Brittney Griner for Viktor Bout as Paul Whelan left behind in Russia

President Biden secures the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner from a Russian penal colony, where she had been held for 10 months on drug charges after cannabis oil cartridges were found in her luggage, in exchange for convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, nicknamed the "merchant of death." Russia refuses to release former Marine Paul Whelan alongside Griner. Biden calls the choice "not a choice of which American to bring home" but defends it as the only deal Russia would accept. Whelan's family calls the outcome "a catastrophe." Whelan is eventually freed in August 2024 in a separate 26-person international prisoner swap.