With the oppressive conviction on Thursday of Brittney Griner by Russia, talks are underway for a prisoner swap. And while Americans want to see the WNBA star freed, the network morning and evening newscasts don’t seem particularly interested in just who Joe Biden would be trading in order to free Griner.
Instead, ABC, CBS and NBC are simply referring the man offered by the U.S. in exchange as Viktor Bout, describing the ex-Soviet military officer as an “arms dealer.” In reality, he is a vicious terrorist-backer who has been convicted for conspiring to murder Americans.
On Friday’s CBS Mornings, Nancy Cordes blandly described it this way: “The U.S. proposal reportedly involved Russia releasing Griner and another detained American, Paul Whelan, in exchange for the U.S. giving up convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.”
CBS even played a clip of Cordes pressing National Security Council coordinator John Kirby if the deal was good enough for the Russians: “Do you think the Russians would ever accept a prisoner swap that wasn't one for one or two for two, two of our prisoners for two of theirs?”
On NBC’s Today, Andrea Mitchell used similarly mild language when discussing Bout: “The President has approved a proposal to trade convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout for Griner and Paul Whelan, an American businessman who has already spent four years in a Russian jail.”
On ABC’s Good Morning America, reporter Maggi Rulli at least added the word “notorious” when describing Bout:
Just last week the State Department announced a proposal to bring Griner and former Marine Paul Whelan home. Sources telling ABC News the offer included swapping them for the notorious arms dealer Viktor Bout, who is currently serving a 25-year sentence in the U.S.
Who is Bout, really? CNN.com summarized him well, explaining:
Viktor Bout, a former Soviet military officer, is currently serving a 25-year prison sentence in the United States on charges of conspiring to kill Americans, acquire and export anti-aircraft missiles, and provide material support to a terrorist organization.
...
"Viktor Bout has been international arms trafficking enemy number one for many years, arming some of the most violent conflicts around the globe," said Preet Bharara, the US attorney in Manhattan when Bout was sentenced in New York in 2012.
"He was finally brought to justice in an American court for agreeing to provide a staggering number of military-grade weapons to an avowed terrorist organization committed to killing Americans."
Thursday night saw the same pattern: NBC and CBS referred to Bout as just an “arms dealer.” World News Tonight’s Mary Bruce went the extra step and called him the “notorious Russian arms dealer.”
What’s striking is that the description of Bout has gotten milder. Just last week, on the July 28 Today, Andrea Mitchell told viewers what Bout’s well-known nickname is, describing him as “the merchant of death.” ABC and CBS also used that label, a phrase they have dropped on Thursday and Friday.
Americans want to see any imprisoned fellow citizens brought home quickly. But when Joe Biden is considering releasing a violent terrorist-supporter who has been intent on killing Americans, viewers should be told just how serious a decision that may turn out to be.
The attempt to bury just how serious the release of Bout is was sponsored on CBS by Progressive insurance, on ABC by Subaru and on NBC by Wayfair. Click on the links to let them know what you think.
Partial transcripts are below. Click “expand” to read more.
CBS Mornings
8/5/20227:31 AM ET
NANCY CORDES: Russia still has not accepted a U.S.-proposed prisoner swap put forth weeks ago. Moscow said they wanted to wait for the trial to end before negotiating.
WILLIAM EVANIN (Former U.S. National Counterintelligence & Security Dir): Now that she's convicted, it's an opportunity for our State Department and back channels to get something done.CORDES: The U.S. proposal reportedly involved Russia releasing Griner and another detained American, Paul Whelan, in exchange for the U.S. giving up convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. Do you think the Russians would ever accept a prisoner swap that wasn't one for one or two for two, two of our prisoners for two of theirs?
JOHN KIRBY (NSC Strategic Communications Coordinator): That's a better question for the Russians. What I can tell you is that we put forth a serious proposal. We urge them to accept it.
Good Morning America
8/5/20227:12
MAGGI RULLI: Just last week the State Department announced a proposal to bring Griner and former Marine Paul Whelan home. Sources telling ABC News the offer included swapping them for the notorious arms dealer Viktor Bout, who is currently serving a 25-year sentence in the U.S.
Today
8/5/2022ANDREA MITCHELL: The President has approved a proposal to trade convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout for Griner and Paul Whelan, an American businessman who has already spent four years in a Russian jail.
...
MITCHELL: Russia’s counteroffer, along with Bout, send home Vadim Krasikov, a Russian spy jailed in Germany for murder.
NBC Nightly News
8/4/2022ANDREA MITCHELL: Despite State Department objections, President Biden has proposed trading convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.
World News Tonight
8/4/2022MARY BRUCE: The Biden administration is urging Russia to accept its proposal to bring Griner and former Marine Paul Whelan home. Sources tell ABC News the offer is to swap the two Americans for notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.
CBS Evening News
8/4/2022NANCY CORDES: In a bid to bring Griner and another American Paul Whelan home, U.S. Officials have proposed a prisoner swap, possibly involving Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.
