Page 10 - Tom Firestone News Today

The Brittney Griner cannabis case has developed into a major U.S.-Russia diplomacy matter as public pressure mounts for Biden to get her released.

Two members of Brittney Griners Russian club team appeared as character witnesses in her trial, telling the judge that she has been an exemplary player and citizen during her six seasons in the country.

Fabricated set up case. there is also mark. he is a 60 year old teacher at the angle american school. he was arrested with 17 grams of medical marijuana at the same airport in august. he was sentenced to 14 years in a russian prison. there are several americans there who need assistance from the u.s. government. i think that her case has brought attention to all of their cases. in a way, it may help the others. tom, thanks for joining us this morning. we appreciate it. tom firestone is a former ...

The administration was the first one that bg every voted for. they took the time to see her as a person, they see her in the midst of what she is going for. they were able to speak to me directly and let me know that they are exhausting all the efforts to bring your home. >> joining me now is tom. he is a former resident a legal adviser embassy in moscow. he is a u.s. attorney for the eastern district of new york. thank you for being with us. and try to get to the bottom of this. did britney gri...

US basketballer Brittney Griner has been held in a Russian jail since February. Here's how the WNBA star found herself at the centre of a row between two rival superpowers.

The Minnesota Wild’s general manager is denying media reports that Kirill Kaprizov returned to the U.S. after questions surrounding his military service in Russia.

Figure like mr. boot. meanwhile, all of this comes at a time of extremely heightened tensions between russia and the u.s. as the war in ukraine rages on. the ongoing detainment of brittney griner in russia is where we start the hour with something our most favorite reporters and friends. michael crowley is here, his byline is on that "times" reporting. also joining us, "wall street journal" moscow bureau chief ann simmons and tom firestone is here served as a resident legal advisor at the u.s. e...

Immediate peril if you think that it may put americans who are out traveling around the world right now at risk of being arrested or abducted by russia or iran or any other country that says, hey, we can get people out of jail, or we can get some assets unfrozen. and this is what the white house is wrestling with right now, and its excruciating. >> michael crowley, ann simmons, tom firestone, its an excruciating human experience. i appreciate all your reporting and expertise on the topic. thank ...

Little bit more complicated. we just dont know. these negotiations are conducted in conditions of the highest confidentiality. they have to be so its hard to say whats going on in terms of the negotiations right now. >> tom, are the russians -- is it part of the russia playbook to simply target and arrest and deta somebody like brittney griner for the express purpose of getting back some of their most heinous convicted criminals? >> well, we have seen cases in the past where the russians have ap...

The u.s. government, u.s. officials in moscow have expressed frustration that they havent always had the opportunity to have the type of access they want to ms. griner. so, it is a difficult situation. not all journalists were allowed into the courtroom today, for example. there were lots of journalists who turned up at the court, but they were mainly russian journalists who were allowed in, and the reason given is that its a very small courtroom, as a courthouse on the outskirts of moscow. >> t...