Rep. Wenstrup Statement on Biden Administration's Exchange of 'Merchant of Death' & Convicted International Arms Dealer for Brittney Griner

Press Release

Rep. Brad Wenstrup released the following statement upon the Biden administration's prisoner exchange with Russia of convicted international arms dealer Viktor Bout for U.S. citizen Brittney Griner:

"The Biden administration continues to leave U.S. Marine veteran Paul Whelan behind in captivity in Russia. I am happy that Griner's family has her back in the U.S., but I am also disheartened to see the Biden administration continue to allow Putin to use American citizens as pawns in a hostage-taking scheme where Americans are detained in Russia for minor or trumped-up charges in exchange for international war criminals like Viktor Bout," said Rep. Wenstrup. "Bout is one of the world's most prolific arms dealers -- called the "Merchant of Death' and convicted for conspiring to kill Americans -- and now, due to the Biden administration's seemingly one-sided negotiations, he is back on the streets. This isn't tough negotiating, and it makes the United States look weak on the world stage."

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