Brittney Griner steps off a plane after her return from Russia following a prisoner exchange. (Brittney Griner on Instagram.)

Since her release from a Russian prison camp, many people have wondered why Brittney Griner was allowed to come home and fellow American prisoner Paul Whelan wasn’t.

The Biden administration and Griner were heavily criticized for not doing more to help get Whelan out as well. He has been held in a Russian prison longer, well now we may know.

Russian President Vladimir Putin reneged on a deal that would have sent both prisoners home according to the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Michael McCaul.

“The deal was originally when the arms dealer from Russia was released that it was supposed to be Griner, the athlete, and Paul Whelan,” Rep. McCaul told CNN this week.

McCaul continued explaining what happened.

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About Stacey Mickles

Stacey is a 1995 graduate of the University of Alabama who has previously worked for other publications such as Sportskeeda and Saturday Down South.