New efforts are underway to secure the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner, who has now spent nearly five months in Russian custody.  Last week, the two time Olympic gold medalist pleaded guilty to possessing vape cartridges containing cannabis oil, when she arrived in Russia in February.  Amid a growing public pressure for Griner to be freed, a former U.S. ambassador with experience in helping to facilitate the release of American prisoners is reportedly stepping in to help.  Tom Firestone, partner at Stroock & Stroock & Lavan and former resident legal advisor for the U.S. embassy in Moscow, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.


Closing Bell

What Happens Next For WNBA Star Brittney Griner?

Alright, well new efforts are underway to secure the release of W. N. B. A. Star Brittney Griner who has now spent nearly five months in Russian custody last week. The two time olympic gold medalist pleading guilty to possessing Vape cartridges containing cannabis oil When she arrived in Russia in february and admitting growing public pressure campaign for Griner to be freed. A former U. S. Ambassador with experience in helping to facilitate the release of american prisoners is reportedly stepping in to help. Well, joining me now is tom Firestone partner at the law firm struck, struck and Levon and former resident legal advisor for the U. S. Embassy in Moscow. Thanks so much for coming on the show. Tom I know former new Mexico governor Bill Richardson actually helping to secure Russia's release of U. S. Marine. Trevor Reed in april and now expected to travel to Russia in the coming weeks, hoping to make a deal for Greiner. What results do you expect could come from this trip? Well, it's not really clear what result will come from Richardson's trip in particular? It seems clear that the Russians want Viktor Bout's release the arms dealer released in exchange for grinder. So I think it's going to come down to whether or not the U. S. Government and the president will negotiate an exchange that could result in the Russians releasing her. Mhm. Well let's talk more about the case with Trevor re just for some context here he was released after being traded for a convicted a Russian convicted of in the U. S. Of drug smuggling and then Russia has repeatedly suggested it is interested in trading grinder for Russians held in U. S. Prison. So do you think that this new trip signals that we could see a similar deal to the one that did free read um in the case for Griner. We could, there's certainly a lot of discussion of that reed was freed in exchange for Constantine Yaroshenko, convicted drug smuggler who got 20 years in US in US prison. The president, the Secretary of State have said repeatedly that they're not going to rest until all the americans were unlawfully detained in Russia get released. So it seems like they are putting new effort into this and they're committed to it. Of course it's a difficult thing to do. Boot was convicted of selling arms to a terrorist organization to kill americans. It got sense to 25 years. So that's a big ask. Um that's a lot for the administration to swallow. It may be possible that they will um exchange him but only if Greiner is included with only if other americans are included with grinder. So it's not a one for one but multiple for one. Okay, so that is interesting. I want to talk a bit more about that. Russian state media and officials repeatedly floating the idea as you've mentioned here about trading Greiner for Viktor bout Russian Arms Dealer currently serving a 25 year sentence on Narco Terrorism charges. But some have obviously said that training him for grinder would not necessarily be equal. What are your thoughts there, especially as it pertains to any other prisoners that might be released as well? Well, I certainly agree it wouldn't be equal um grinders offense. He had less than one g of hash oil. He was convicted of selling arms trying to sell arms to the FARC to kill Americans got 25 years. But hostage situations are not necessarily fair. That's why their hostage situations in the first place. One way to make it a little bit less unfair would be to include other americans. Paul. Whelan is an american who was apparently set up who got 16 years. Mark Fogel is an american school teacher who got 14 years for possessing less than 20 g of medical marijuana. So it may be possible to include other americans in the deal. So it does not appear so lopsided, interesting. So on monday, I know National Security Advisor jake Sullivan saying that the White House has been in touch with Richardson but also working on its own track. So, prior to biden replying to grinders letter to him, we had heard from grinder's wife expressing being frustrated with the current administration about grinders own imprisonment. What are your thoughts on how the biden administration has handled the situation so far? Well, I think the we don't know what they're doing behind the scenes. We can only judge by the outward indications of what they're doing. The president has spoken about this repeatedly, he's reached out to grinders, wife, the National Security Advisor has spoken about the Secretary of State has spoken about it. So they seem to be very, very committed to getting her out all of which is a good sign what they're doing behind the scenes. We don't know whether or not they can succeed in getting her out is also something else. Look at the relationship with Russia right now, it's not exactly easy to negotiate with the Russians ever, especially not right now. So they've got a big task ahead of them. But the outward signs are that they are extremely committed to getting her home. But the proof will be in the pudding when she actually lands here. Hopefully. Well this public pressure campaign to free Greiner, including calls from some major figures as well, including NBA star Lebron James who during an episode of his HBO show, the shop said about Griner quote now, how can she feel like America house her has her back. I would be feeling like do I even want to go back to America and quote, Well, James later clarifying the intent behind his comments on twitter, but how do these types of comments, impact grinders own pathway to potentially come home? Well, clearly to get home, she's gotta have, there's gotta be action by the administration at the highest levels. So all of this attention brings attention to this matter and helps to motivate them to do something. It helps also the other americans who are wrongfully detained. So I think that in that sense it's motivating to them. But at the same time as I say, they seem extremely motivated on their own to get her out. So I think you put it. Lebron James the last part of his tweet, there's a long story short, Bring her home. I couldn't agree more. That is really what it comes down to. So it is interesting because if a deal is made for grinder, some security experts expressing their concerns about having the potential to embolden other hostile regimes to imprison americans on false charges. Um and then it could put other americans abroad in danger. Do you think that there is a possibility of that? Well, I think that's part of what makes it so hard to negotiate this deal. They are sensitive to the precedent that this may be setting. That's true of every hostage situation. When you negotiate with hostage takers, you are potentially encouraging future hostage taking. So that's part of what ways into their calculation they've got away that they've got away potentially releasing a very very serious Russian criminal from U. S. Custody. They've got two against saving people from Russian custody. So they've got you know, there's some very strong competing considerations here. You're right, It could encourage future hostage taking. That is part of every hostage situation. All right, we're gonna leave it there Tom Firestone partner at the law firm struck, struck and Levon and former resident legal advisor for the U. S. Embassy in Moscow. Thank you so much for coming on the show.