Reports say WNBA star Brittney Griner is out of Russian custody. She was exchanged for Viktor Bout [[ boot ]], a Russian arms dealer. Earlier this fall, a Russian court upheld Griner's drug conviction and nine-year prison sentence.
She had been in custody since February when screeners at a Moscow airport found vape cartridges containing a small amount of hashish in her luggage. Another American in Russian custody, Paul Whelan, was not released.
President Biden released a short statement saying: "Moments ago I spoke to Brittney Griner. She is safe. She is on a plane. She is on her way home."