Article

2022-08-23 Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia

Foggy Bottom sez Rodman effort to free Grinner could complicate existing efforts

[The Hill] The Biden administration is discouraging former NBA player Dennis Rodman from traveling to Russia to help free fellow basketball star Brittney Griner, saying such a visit would only complicate existing efforts to secure Griner’s release from Russian prison.

"We put forward a substantial proposal to Russia to seek the freedom of Paul Whelan or Brittney Griner," State Department spokesperson Ned Price told reporters at a briefing Monday afternoon, when asked about Rodman’s stated plans.

"We believe that anything other than negotiating further through the established channel is likely to complicate and hinder those release efforts," he added.

Price stressed that Rodman would not be traveling on behalf of the U.S. government if he did go to Russia. He also reiterated that the administration has strongly advised American citizens against traveling to Russia because of the threat of wrongful detentions and Russia’s war in Ukraine, among other reasons.

Rodman told NBC News over the weekend that he planned to visit Russia to try to help free Griner, a WNBA player who was detained in Russia on drug charges in February and has since been sentenced to nine years in prison.

"I got permission to go to Russia to help that girl," Rodman told the outlet. "I’m trying to go this week."

The White House National Security Council did not respond to a request for comment on Rodman’s plans.

Griner pleaded guilty to the drug charges, but said she didn’t mean to pack vape canisters with cannabis oil in her bag. The U.S. has officially declared her as being wrongfully detained.

Posted by Besoeker 2022-08-23 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11134 views ] Top

#1 Maybe he can take her some more drugs.

Posted by Glenmore 2022-08-23 01:14|| 2022-08-23 01:14|| Front Page Top

#2 I'll bet just being in his presence would induce hallucinations.

Posted by Mullah Richard 2022-08-23 08:35|| 2022-08-23 08:35|| Front Page Top

#3 ^ A Contact Buzz

Posted by Frank G 2022-08-23 09:40|| 2022-08-23 09:40|| Front Page Top

#4 Monkeypox numbers suddenly surge in post-Rodman Moscow.

Has there ever been a case of a civilian or ex-President getting involved in international affairs that didn't cause someone in the gov to complain that it would complicate efforts? Territoriality and all.

Posted by ruprecht 2022-08-23 10:39|| 2022-08-23 10:39|| Front Page Top

#5 Why on earth would Putin release Griner for any less than a dozen HIMARS?

Posted by Abu Uluque 2022-08-23 12:10|| 2022-08-23 12:10|| Front Page Top

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