Russian state television celebrated the country’s “position of power” following Brittney Griner-Merchant of Death trade in an eye poking interview.
Russian operative Maria Butina, who was convicted of covertly serving as a Russian agent while in the United States, appeared on Russian television to brag about the decision to trade Griner for Viktor Bout, a supervillain-esque character known as the “Merchant of Death.”
Julia Davis, a columnist for the far left Daily Beast, noted that Butina seemed to make the remarks about trading Griner to boast that Paul Whelan, a Canadian-born United States Marine who also holds British and Irish citizenship, remains in a Russian work camp.
Butina described the United States’ trade as “an offer that can’t be refused” and boasted about Russia’s “position of power,” reported Davis.
Convicted Russian operative Maria Butina appeared on Russian TV to assert that it was Russia's decision that Brittney Griner was exchanged for Viktor Bout (as opposed to Paul Whelan), describing it as "an offer that can't be refused" & boasting about Russia's "position of power." pic.twitter.com/MndPiCGP8N
— Julia Davis (@JuliaDavisNews) December 9, 2022
Meanwhile, another clip surfaced showing Bout speak to his mother over the phone.
Russian state TV showing Victor Bout talking to his mother over the phone and laughing and having a good time after being released in exchange for Brittney Griner. They're laughing at us. pic.twitter.com/NYCj9yqzwY
— Louis Marinelli (@LouisJMarinelli) December 8, 2022
Though the Biden administration claims that getting Whelan back was never an option, it is nevertheless being further repudiated by conservatives and even some of its pro-war allies for its Griner trade.
Fox News Host Tucker Carlson elevated conservative attacks on the decision, asserting that the Biden White House chose the basketball player of the Marine because Griner is a black “lesbian” who “despises America.”
βThere was only room for one in the lifeboat and the Marine got left behind,β said Carlson in a fiery segment. βWell, why did they make that choice? Well, you should know that Whelan is a Trump voter, and he made the mistake of saying so on social media.”

2019 photo of WNBA player Brittney Griner plays in the Women’s Basketball Euroleague in Yekaterinburg, Russia
βHeβs paying the price for that now,” Carlson noted. “Brittney Griner is not.”
“Sheβs got very different politics,” said Carlson, later noting that Griner refused to stand for the National Anthem and previously claimed the United States was rife with police brutality and racism.
βThatβs the kind of position that gets you rewarded by Joe Biden. βHate America? Perfect,” said Carlson. “Weβll free the guy who sold weapons to drug cartels to get you out early.’β

wboehmer
December 10, 2022 at 6:48 am
The dummy Biden tries to excuse his bad deal by saying Viktor Bout already was scheduled to be released in 2029 anyway.
Will someone please clue-in Clueless Joe that what he’s talking about as if it’s coming right up actually is more than six years away.
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Gerald Ladd
December 10, 2022 at 8:13 am
The Merchant of Death will fit right into the Biden administration. A perfect fit.
Frank Randazzo
December 10, 2022 at 8:41 am
Biden acts like a mad dog ready to attack but it’s our country he’s attacking.
Drosack
December 10, 2022 at 10:47 am
LOL, come on man!
corruption as usual
December 10, 2022 at 11:04 am
Yep, they are laughing at US. What f’ing CHUMPS we are! PATHETIC!
2WarAbnVet
December 10, 2022 at 11:05 am
Big whoop! Russia outsmarted an Alzheimer victim (and his equally mindless coterie).
Roger T Brown
December 11, 2022 at 11:54 am
Will the families of the VICTIMS of the Merchant of Death be able to sue Xiden for releasing the MURDERER of their families?
Rick
December 10, 2022 at 12:12 pm
Folksy Joey is such a woos. The man is a zero.
CharlieSeattle
December 10, 2022 at 1:50 pm
14 years of Obama and Biden proves there is not a patriotic Praetorian guard element in the DOD and SS that will take out the marxist, muslim globalist, traitorous scum destroying the country.
Even when the GOP held all 3 branches of Government in 2017-2018 they did nothing but sit on their hands waiting for trump to be impeached.
F#@k’em All Now! They are complicit in Treason!
Thorn
December 10, 2022 at 2:00 pm
Russia, China and Iran are all in cahoots now.
What could possibly go wrong? Will Ukraine defend the U.S. from those 3? Nope. The U.S. is toast. Thanks Biden. Thanks DemoRats. When those demonic foreigners bomb/invade the U.S. , I hope they come after YOU first, drag your asses out on the streets and chop off your heads. When that happens, if I’m still alive, I will piss on your corpses.
Dgjot
December 10, 2022 at 2:06 pm
Russia, China, Iran and Saudi Arabia are all sucking up to each other.