Brittney Griner is doing well while recovering in Texas after being freed from Russian detention and returning to the U.S. last week, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told ABC News.
The U.S. was unable to secure the release of former Marine Paul Whelan as part of the deal, too. Whelan has been in Russian captivity for nearly four years on espionage charges that the White House says are false; ABC Newsthat a "substantial proposal" was originally put forward was to exchange both Americans for Bout.
He was extradited to the U.S. on narco-terrorism charges and in 2011 was convicted of conspiring to kill Americans, to supply anti-aircraft missiles and of aiding a terrorist organization. Like others in the administration, he insisted that it was impossible to reach a deal that would have included Whelan's release.
"I understand the criticism," he said of the deal's detractors. "They weren't in the room. They weren't on the phone. They weren't watching the incredible effort and determination ... to try to get both Paul and Brittney out together. In a negotiation, you do what you can, you do as much as you can. You push and you push and you push, and we did. And this deal we got last week, that was the deal that was possible.
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