On Tuesday, Joy Reid, a host on MSNBC, proposed a theory that Russian President Vladimir Putin deliberately orchestrated the arrest and detention of WNBA star Brittney Griner due to her racial and sexual identity.
Griner, an African-American and openly gay athlete, was arrested by Russian authorities in February 2022 at Sheremetyevo Airport for possession of hash oil found in her luggage. She later pleaded guilty to drug charges in July of the same year. Reid, speaking on "Morning Joe," suggested that Putin's regime targeted Griner, knowing her arrest would cause significant distress in the United States.
Reid expressed her shock at Griner's predicament, stating, "To me, its sort of shocking to think about spending nearly a year far from home, wondering if youll ever get out. Because she was sentenced to nine years, nine and a half years incarceration for what, in this country, would amount to nothing, and for something that wasnt even deliberate."
She further elaborated on her theory, saying, "But I think the Putin regime understood that they had not just a black celebrity, a black queer celebrity, somebody who could be used internally as a pawn, somebody who they could sort of internally mock and hold hostage from the United States, knowing the trauma that it would cause back home.
In a bid to secure Griner's release, the administration of President Joe Biden arranged a prisoner exchange, sending an arms dealer known as "The Merchant of Death" to Russia. Griner has since claimed that the hash oil vape pen cartridge found in her baggage, which led to her arrest, was there by accident.
However, Griner expressed her disappointment that Paul Whelan, a former marine who remains in Russian custody, was not included in the prisoner swap.
In a separate incident, Russian authorities arrested Evan Gershkovich, a reporter for the Wall Street Journal, in March 2023. The country's Federal Security Service accused him of spying for the U.S. government. Despite calls from President Biden for his release, Gershkovich remains detained. Former President Donald Trump has pledged to secure his release if he is reelected and Gershkovich is still in custody.
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