Britney Griner deal

[Anonymous]

Paul Whelan case is not as straight forward as the press and right makes it out to be. I do not think he was a US spy but might have been doing some corporate spying. If you look into his back ground lots of flags pop up.

Canadian-born former United States Marine(reserves). Court martialed for attempted larceny, three specifications of dereliction of duty, making a false official statement, wrongfully using another’s social security number, and ten specifications of making and uttering checks without having sufficient funds in his account for payment. Was sentenced to 60 days restriction, reduction to pay grade E-4, and a bad conduct discharge, dishonorably discharged. He has U.S., British, and Irish citizenship.

He said he worked in law enforcement by the places he said he worked have no records of his employment. Whelan said in a deposition in 2013 that he holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and an MBA degree. He took courses at Northern Michigan University from fall 1988 to fall 1990 without earning a degree.

On December 28, 2018, Whelan was arrested in the Moscow area by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), which later confirmed his arrest.[15][16][17] Whelan's twin brother David said Whelan arrived in Moscow on December 22 to attend the wedding of a former fellow Marine at the Hotel Metropol Moscow and to assist the groom's family members on their first visit to Russia, a country he had visited many times. He said his brother planned to return to Michigan on January 6, 2019, via Saint Petersburg.[18]

Per MBK News, an outlet run by Putin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Whelan had $80,000 in cash "temporarily confiscated" during a customs inspection at Domodedovo Airport.[19] According to the New York Times, Whelan had acted as a local guide for the wedding guests, but had decided to spend the day of the wedding to meet a friend, per the account of other attendees.[20] David said his brother entered Russia using his U.S. passport.[4] He said his brother had not been in contact with his family. He was formally charged on January 3, 2019.[21]

According to the Russian news agency Rosbalt [ru], Whelan was apprehended in his hotel room at the Metropol while concluding a long outing with a Russian citizen, who handed him a USB drive containing "a list of all the employees at a classified security agency". The independent Latvian-based publication Meduza reported that the wedding attendees all banded close together for the duration of the holiday, and were taken aback by Whelan's decision to spend the day alone.[22]

The BBC cited family members of Whelan, who said Whelan previously bragged about knowing an agent of the FSB, and was privy to an unusual cache of personal details about his friend, including which intelligence training school he attended (biographical information typically reserved for a very close circle).[23]

As Whelan said about the arrest, his long-time friend had appeared suddenly in the hotel, followed by authorities, who later arrested him.[24]

According to the lawyers, they could not provide the name of the Russian long-time friend due to Russian secrecy rules, but Whelan's family identified the person as Ilya Yatsenko, whom the Russian newspaper Kommersant described as a major in the FSB's Department "K", which monitors Russian economic crimes.[25]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Whelan_(security_director)

Seems he was either entrapped, being recruited or open to doing something shady. He was not working for the US government with his military record.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Paul Whelan case is not as straight forward as the press and right makes it out to be. I do not think he was a US spy but might have been doing some corporate spying. If you look into his back ground lots of flags pop up.

Canadian-born former United States Marine(reserves). Court martialed for attempted larceny, three specifications of dereliction of duty, making a false official statement, wrongfully using another’s social security number, and ten specifications of making and uttering checks without having sufficient funds in his account for payment. Was sentenced to 60 days restriction, reduction to pay grade E-4, and a bad conduct discharge, dishonorably discharged. He has U.S., British, and Irish citizenship.

He said he worked in law enforcement by the places he said he worked have no records of his employment. Whelan said in a deposition in 2013 that he holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and an MBA degree. He took courses at Northern Michigan University from fall 1988 to fall 1990 without earning a degree.

On December 28, 2018, Whelan was arrested in the Moscow area by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), which later confirmed his arrest.[15][16][17] Whelan's twin brother David said Whelan arrived in Moscow on December 22 to attend the wedding of a former fellow Marine at the Hotel Metropol Moscow and to assist the groom's family members on their first visit to Russia, a country he had visited many times. He said his brother planned to return to Michigan on January 6, 2019, via Saint Petersburg.[18]

Per MBK News, an outlet run by Putin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Whelan had $80,000 in cash "temporarily confiscated" during a customs inspection at Domodedovo Airport.[19] According to the New York Times, Whelan had acted as a local guide for the wedding guests, but had decided to spend the day of the wedding to meet a friend, per the account of other attendees.[20] David said his brother entered Russia using his U.S. passport.[4] He said his brother had not been in contact with his family. He was formally charged on January 3, 2019.[21]

According to the Russian news agency Rosbalt [ru], Whelan was apprehended in his hotel room at the Metropol while concluding a long outing with a Russian citizen, who handed him a USB drive containing "a list of all the employees at a classified security agency". The independent Latvian-based publication Meduza reported that the wedding attendees all banded close together for the duration of the holiday, and were taken aback by Whelan's decision to spend the day alone.[22]

The BBC cited family members of Whelan, who said Whelan previously bragged about knowing an agent of the FSB, and was privy to an unusual cache of personal details about his friend, including which intelligence training school he attended (biographical information typically reserved for a very close circle).[23]

As Whelan said about the arrest, his long-time friend had appeared suddenly in the hotel, followed by authorities, who later arrested him.[24]

According to the lawyers, they could not provide the name of the Russian long-time friend due to Russian secrecy rules, but Whelan's family identified the person as Ilya Yatsenko, whom the Russian newspaper Kommersant described as a major in the FSB's Department "K", which monitors Russian economic crimes.[25]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Whelan_(security_director)

Seems he was either entrapped, being recruited or open to doing something shady. He was not working for the US government with his military record.

But…but…that black lady had vape cartridges! Surely she is the one who should be sent to a forced labor camp?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Paul Whelan case is not as straight forward as the press and right makes it out to be. I do not think he was a US spy but might have been doing some corporate spying. If you look into his back ground lots of flags pop up.

Canadian-born former United States Marine(reserves). Court martialed for attempted larceny, three specifications of dereliction of duty, making a false official statement, wrongfully using another’s social security number, and ten specifications of making and uttering checks without having sufficient funds in his account for payment. Was sentenced to 60 days restriction, reduction to pay grade E-4, and a bad conduct discharge, dishonorably discharged. He has U.S., British, and Irish citizenship.

He said he worked in law enforcement by the places he said he worked have no records of his employment. Whelan said in a deposition in 2013 that he holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and an MBA degree. He took courses at Northern Michigan University from fall 1988 to fall 1990 without earning a degree.

On December 28, 2018, Whelan was arrested in the Moscow area by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), which later confirmed his arrest.[15][16][17] Whelan's twin brother David said Whelan arrived in Moscow on December 22 to attend the wedding of a former fellow Marine at the Hotel Metropol Moscow and to assist the groom's family members on their first visit to Russia, a country he had visited many times. He said his brother planned to return to Michigan on January 6, 2019, via Saint Petersburg.[18]

Per MBK News, an outlet run by Putin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Whelan had $80,000 in cash "temporarily confiscated" during a customs inspection at Domodedovo Airport.[19] According to the New York Times, Whelan had acted as a local guide for the wedding guests, but had decided to spend the day of the wedding to meet a friend, per the account of other attendees.[20] David said his brother entered Russia using his U.S. passport.[4] He said his brother had not been in contact with his family. He was formally charged on January 3, 2019.[21]

According to the Russian news agency Rosbalt [ru], Whelan was apprehended in his hotel room at the Metropol while concluding a long outing with a Russian citizen, who handed him a USB drive containing "a list of all the employees at a classified security agency". The independent Latvian-based publication Meduza reported that the wedding attendees all banded close together for the duration of the holiday, and were taken aback by Whelan's decision to spend the day alone.[22]

The BBC cited family members of Whelan, who said Whelan previously bragged about knowing an agent of the FSB, and was privy to an unusual cache of personal details about his friend, including which intelligence training school he attended (biographical information typically reserved for a very close circle).[23]

As Whelan said about the arrest, his long-time friend had appeared suddenly in the hotel, followed by authorities, who later arrested him.[24]

According to the lawyers, they could not provide the name of the Russian long-time friend due to Russian secrecy rules, but Whelan's family identified the person as Ilya Yatsenko, whom the Russian newspaper Kommersant described as a major in the FSB's Department "K", which monitors Russian economic crimes.[25]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Whelan_(security_director)

Seems he was either entrapped, being recruited or open to doing something shady. He was not working for the US government with his military record.

+1

Why is everyone acting like Whelan is some noble US citizen? He was most definitely involved in some shady doings and was discarded from the military for bad conduct. He was no military hero who was taken as a POW.

[Anonymous]

It's not all about US (us and the U.S).
The Russian government does not need a basketball player. She knows nothing about how the government runs. They still think Whelan is a spy and they will try to get as much information from him as possible even if he says he isn't. In their eyes, U.S would need to release two Russians for 1 spy.
To them, it is take it or leave it deal.

[Anonymous]

Being candid and harsh, IMO this wasn't a great swap for us. We let go an international arms dealer. This person is a global threat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Being candid and harsh, IMO this wasn't a great swap for us. We let go an international arms dealer. This person is a global threat.

He'd be released in 2029 anyway. Hardly some guy we had locked up for life.

[Anonymous]

Russia orchestrated this to play to the alt right and Putin supporting GOP. AA woman being released ahead of the middle aged white guy. It’s red meat for the Tucker Carlson comrades. Russia is very weak and the only successes have been being able to pull off is co-opting conservative media and using disinformation tactics in social media. Fueling wedge issues like racism is one of their go to moves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I am glad she is coming home. Fortunately this happened with Biden and not Trump in office. I think many of you need to to separate your feelings about a 6’9” black lesbian who is not especially endearing or traditionally feminine and the actual transgressions. If she was a snub- nosed little blonde with a perma-grin, there would be different reactions. Not everyone is a Dallas Cowboy cheerleader and a mindless flag-waver. America is supposed to support freedom of expression.

Bringing an illegal drug into Russia, lying when caught, are not the acts of an innocent person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Paul Whelan case is not as straight forward as the press and right makes it out to be. I do not think he was a US spy but might have been doing some corporate spying. If you look into his back ground lots of flags pop up.

Canadian-born former United States Marine(reserves). Court martialed for attempted larceny, three specifications of dereliction of duty, making a false official statement, wrongfully using another’s social security number, and ten specifications of making and uttering checks without having sufficient funds in his account for payment. Was sentenced to 60 days restriction, reduction to pay grade E-4, and a bad conduct discharge, dishonorably discharged. He has U.S., British, and Irish citizenship.

He said he worked in law enforcement by the places he said he worked have no records of his employment. Whelan said in a deposition in 2013 that he holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and an MBA degree. He took courses at Northern Michigan University from fall 1988 to fall 1990 without earning a degree.

On December 28, 2018, Whelan was arrested in the Moscow area by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), which later confirmed his arrest.[15][16][17] Whelan's twin brother David said Whelan arrived in Moscow on December 22 to attend the wedding of a former fellow Marine at the Hotel Metropol Moscow and to assist the groom's family members on their first visit to Russia, a country he had visited many times. He said his brother planned to return to Michigan on January 6, 2019, via Saint Petersburg.[18]

Per MBK News, an outlet run by Putin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Whelan had $80,000 in cash "temporarily confiscated" during a customs inspection at Domodedovo Airport.[19] According to the New York Times, Whelan had acted as a local guide for the wedding guests, but had decided to spend the day of the wedding to meet a friend, per the account of other attendees.[20] David said his brother entered Russia using his U.S. passport.[4] He said his brother had not been in contact with his family. He was formally charged on January 3, 2019.[21]

According to the Russian news agency Rosbalt [ru], Whelan was apprehended in his hotel room at the Metropol while concluding a long outing with a Russian citizen, who handed him a USB drive containing "a list of all the employees at a classified security agency". The independent Latvian-based publication Meduza reported that the wedding attendees all banded close together for the duration of the holiday, and were taken aback by Whelan's decision to spend the day alone.[22]

The BBC cited family members of Whelan, who said Whelan previously bragged about knowing an agent of the FSB, and was privy to an unusual cache of personal details about his friend, including which intelligence training school he attended (biographical information typically reserved for a very close circle).[23]

As Whelan said about the arrest, his long-time friend had appeared suddenly in the hotel, followed by authorities, who later arrested him.[24]

According to the lawyers, they could not provide the name of the Russian long-time friend due to Russian secrecy rules, but Whelan's family identified the person as Ilya Yatsenko, whom the Russian newspaper Kommersant described as a major in the FSB's Department "K", which monitors Russian economic crimes.[25]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Whelan_(security_director)

Seems he was either entrapped, being recruited or open to doing something shady. He was not working for the US government with his military record.

I suspect Whelen was actually a spy for Russia that fell out of their good graces. He's only marginally American. Brittany might be a petulent, self absorbed American, but most of us are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's not all about US (us and the U.S).
The Russian government does not need a basketball player. She knows nothing about how the government runs. They still think Whelan is a spy and they will try to get as much information from him as possible even if he says he isn't. In their eyes, U.S would need to release two Russians for 1 spy.
To them, it is take it or leave it deal.

Have you looked at his record? He was convicted of stealing in the military.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I am glad she is coming home. Fortunately this happened with Biden and not Trump in office. I think many of you need to to separate your feelings about a 6’9” black lesbian who is not especially endearing or traditionally feminine and the actual transgressions. If she was a snub- nosed little blonde with a perma-grin, there would be different reactions. Not everyone is a Dallas Cowboy cheerleader and a mindless flag-waver. America is supposed to support freedom of expression.

Bringing an illegal drug into Russia, lying when caught, are not the acts of an innocent person.

Having $80,000 in cash on you at the airport is okay?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being candid and harsh, IMO this wasn't a great swap for us. We let go an international arms dealer. This person is a global threat.

He'd be released in 2029 anyway. Hardly some guy we had locked up for life.

Funny how you all want to bring this up now when just a few months ago he was a global threat and this trade was a no go

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Russia orchestrated this to play to the alt right and Putin supporting GOP. AA woman being released ahead of the middle aged white guy. It’s red meat for the Tucker Carlson comrades. Russia is very weak and the only successes have been being able to pull off is co-opting conservative media and using disinformation tactics in social media. Fueling wedge issues like racism is one of their go to moves.

Yep, the right wing is playing right into Putin’s hands. They make fantastic puppets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Worst trade ever. Meanwhile, our marine, who has been imprisoned over 4 years remains there. This was a good prisoner swap? Whomever handled that negotiation is pretty bad at it.

You must be livid with Trump for not doing more to get Whelan out when he was first arrested.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Daily Mail is saying that MBS brokered the exchange.

Even shadier if true.
I'm indifferent on Whelen
Good for Grindr that she gets to go home.
Confident that this deal will go down in history as a major mistake.