The failing sports network known as ESPN has actually done some interesting reporting recently, but not about sports. A reporter from the Disney-owned network actually was able to establish the “Merchant of Death’s” first interview with a western outlet since the his controversial prisoner exchange with WNBA star Brittney Griner, who had been arrested for possessing cannabis oil in Russia.
Viktor Bout via Reuters YouTube
During the interview, Bout shared the only words he spoke to the WNBA star as the two passed each other as the U.S. and Russian representatives exchanged their prisoners for one another.
The notorious arms dealer, implicated in nearly every significant conflict before his capture, apparently said to Griner “I wish you good luck.”
If this doesn’t give you Die Another Day vibes, just remember that while former US Marine Paul Whelan, who was convicted to a harsh 16-year sentence for suspicion of espionage, we exchanged the guy who the movie Lord of War was based on in exchange for a WNBA player who thinks men should compete against women in women’s sports.
You can watch the full interview below:
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If want to add some insult to injury knowing that Joe Biden traded a literal James Bond villain for someone who can’t fill stadiums simply to score political talking points with all four (maybe five if we’re being fair) WNBA fans, just look at else Bout said as he defended his attempts to sell weapons to undercover FBI agents pretending to be a terrorist cell with intentions to kill American fighter pilots.
“Well, think of this, that the same outrage was in Russia when I was sentenced to 25 years. Many people would say, ‘For what? Just for talking? Are you serious?’ There is not even a proper translation to Russian of the crime of conspiracy. We don’t have such even the legal term, So, this is this same kind of outrage in Russia about my case and about many other cases,” Bout said to ESPN.
What are your thoughts on this strange point in history? Let us know in the comments below and across social media.
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