Trump says he rejected Russia deal to swap Paul Whelan for Viktor Bout - New York Post

Former President Donald Trump said Sunday that helium had antecedently rejected an effort by Russia to commercialized “Merchant of Death” arms trader Viktor Bout for former US Marine Paul Whelan — insisting helium would ne'er escaped idiosyncratic who has “killed untold numbers.”

“I turned down a woody with Russia for a 1 connected 1 swap of the alleged Merchant of Death for Paul Whelan,” Trump, 76, said successful a Truth Social post.

“I wouldn’t person made the woody for a 100 radical successful speech for idiosyncratic that has killed untold numbers of radical with his arms deals.”

Bout, who was convicted successful 2011 of conspiracy to termination Americans by supplying a Colombian violent radical with weapons, was freed past week successful speech for the return of WNBA prima Brittney Griner.

Griner had been sentenced to 9 years successful a Russian forced labour campy aft authorities recovered vape canisters with cannabis lipid successful her suitcase erstwhile she touched down successful Moscow backmost successful February.

Trump insisted connected Truth Social that helium would ne'er had freed idiosyncratic who has “killed untold numbers.”Truth @realDonaldTrump

In the aftermath of the high-profile swap, Trump instantly lashed retired astatine the Biden administration, saying Whelan — who has been detained successful Russia connected espionage charges since 2018 — should person been sent backmost to the US alternatively of Griner.

US officials person said they tried to unafraid the merchandise of some Whelan and Griner, but Russia refused to budge — insisting connected the one-for-one swap of Griner for Bout.

Even though helium changeable down the Whelan-Bout swap during his clip successful the White House, Trump insisted Sunday that helium inactive “would person gotten Paul out.”

Viktor Bout, who was convicted successful 2011 of conspiracy to termination Americans by supplying a Colombian violent radical with weapons, was freed past week.Polaris

“The woody for Griner is brainsick and bad. The taking wouldn’t person adjacent happened during my Administration, but if it did, I would person gotten her out, fast!” Trump wrote without elaborating.

A elder Biden medication authoritative insisted past week that Moscow was inactive unfastened to discussing Whelan’s imaginable aboriginal release, arguing that Russia “have things they privation successful this world.”

Shortly after Griner arrived backmost successful Texas on Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin besides suggested that much captive swaps were a possibility.

Trump has antecedently said Paul Whelan, who has been elaborate successful Russia connected espionage charges since 2018, should person been freed alternatively of Brittney Griner. AP

Putin said “everything is possible” erstwhile asked astir aboriginal trades, noting “compromises person been found” for the Bout-Griner exchange.

“We aren’t refusing to proceed this enactment successful the future,” the Russian strongman added.

It comes aft erstwhile nationalist information adviser, John Bolton, told CBS past week that the Biden administration’s woody with Russia was a “surrender.”

“This is not a deal. This is not a swap. This is simply a surrender,” Bolton said.

“And terrorists and rogue states each astir the satellite volition instrumentality enactment of this, and it endangers different Americans successful the aboriginal who tin beryllium grabbed and utilized arsenic bargaining chips by radical who don’t person the aforesaid morals and scruples that we do.”