Commutation Papers News Today

Separate from any talks about ukraine. the deal came together about one week ago after the u.s. offered to swap convicted russian arms dealer viktor bout for both griner and paul whelan. whelan was sentenced to 16 years in prison. the russians rejected that proposal. >> it was either make this exchange, get one back, and the only one they were willing to trade was brittney. >> reporter: president biden didnt sign the commutation papers for bout until griner was in sight of a u.s. delegation. rus...

Didnt sign the commutation papers for bout until griner was on the ground in abu dhabi, in sight of a u.s. delegation. russian president vladimir putin saying the russian federal security service took charge of the swap, adding there is a possibility for nurt negotiations. raising hopes that paul whelan could be the next american freed. >> we are committed to seeing to it that paul whelan will have the same fate. >> reporter: for now griners family, friends and teammates say they are just happy ...

Appears to be in good health. >> she was incredibly gracious and humble on the flight, very appreciative of the effort to get her home. >> reporter: griner is undergoing a medical evaluation before being reunited with her wife cherelle and the rest of her family. a senior biden administration official saying the negotiations to bring griner home were separate from any talks about ukraine. the deal came together about one week ago after the u.s. offered to swap convicted russian arms dealer vikto...

Dealer viktor bout for both griner and paul whelan. whelan was detained in russia in 2018, convicted on espionage charges and sentenced to 16 years in prison, a charge he denies. the russians rejected that proposal. >> it was either make this exchange, get one back and the only one they were willing to trade was britney. >> president biden didnt sign the commutation papers for bout until griner was on the ground in abu dhabi in sight of the u.s. delegation. the u.s. federal security service took...

To 16 years in prison. a charge he denies. the russians rejected that proposal. >> its either make this exchange, get one back and the only one they were willing to trade was brittney griner. >> president biden didnt sign the commutation papers for bout until griner was on the ground in abu dhabi. in sight of a u.s. delegation. russian president vladimir putin saying the russian federal security service took charge of the sawap, adding theres a fur furthe further possibilities for negotiations. ...

Weighing concerns that releasing the arms dealer could ramp up russias efforts to funnel weapons to ukraine. >> its made us weaker, putin stronger and americans more vulnerable. >> reporter: administration officials saying the president had to make a tough decision. >> nobody is doing backflips that mr. bout is back on the street. these are not decisions that we take lightly. we study all the angles, do all of the analysis. but at the end of the day we have a responsibility to americans. >> repo...