Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who also served as the US ambassador to the United Nations, is planning a trip to Russia to help WNBA star Brittney Griner return home, according to ABC News.
Richardson, a former energy secretary in the Clinton administration, helped US Marine Trevor Reed return home in April.
The prisoner swap that saw Reed finally get freed from a Russian prison after two and a half years is reportedly what Richardson hopes to do with Griner.
While Richardson’s office did not confirm the potential visit to Moscow, executive director at the Richardson Center for Global Engagement, Mickey Bergman, said the Griner family asked them to help with the release of their loved one.
The family of Paul Whelan, another former Marine held by Russia for the past three and a half years, also asked Richardson to help his case.
Richardson is currently representing both the Griner and Whelan families.
Brittney Griner is wrongfully detained
Griner has been detained in Russia since mid-February after she was accused by Russian authorities of having vape cartridges containing hashish oil in her luggage.
The two-time Olympic gold medalist in basketball pled guilty earlier this week and said she did not intentionally try to sneak in the cartridges.
The Biden administration classified Griner as “wrongfully detained” and various American officials believe Russia detained her, Whelan and Reed to use as bargaining tools.
Richardson does not represent the White House and in Reed’s case served as a middleman between the two governments to see what both sides would accept in a deal.
Through his nonprofit, the Richardson Center, Richardson has helped imprisoned American citizens in Iran and North Korea, among others, return home.
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