Following WNBA star Brittney Griner’s negotiated release from Russian captivity, conservatives have feigned outrage over the prisoner swap that freed her.
Following WNBA star Brittney Griner’s negotiated release from Russian captivity Thursday, my Twitter feed was (predictably) full of right-wing extremists feigning outrage over the return of a wrongfully detained American.
Generally speaking, I encourage you to do as I have: Prioritize joy about Griner’s return rather than concern yourself with the GOP’s dubious derision toward her. But I do think it’s worth assessing the stupidity, irony and cruelty beneath the outrage.
First, don’t be surprised by Republicans continually referring to the prisoner the United States released in exchange for Griner — Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout — by his nickname, the merchant of death.
Republicans have leaned on the chilling nickname — coined by a British official in 2003 — to highlight Bout’s potential threat. And he has, in fact, been linked to violent regimes worldwide.
However, the federal judge who sentenced him only gave him 25 years behind bars, the mandatory minimum sentence. She told The Associated Press in July she believed Bout had already served enough time for his crimes at that point.
