*The White Hosue has responded to reports that Dennis Rodman intends to travel to Russia and seek the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner after she was sentenced to nine years in prison on drug smuggling charges.
“I got permission to go to Russia to help that girl,” Rodman said during an interview in Washington, D.C., as reported by NBC News. “I’m trying to go this week.”
“I know Putin too well,” Rodman added.
Rodman met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2014 to speak about sports, PEOPLE reports. At the time, he called Putin a “cool guy.”
READ MORE: Dennis Rodman to Travel to Russia to Seek Release of Brittney Griner
It’s unclear who gave Rodman “permission” to go to Russia but Biden’s White House does not want the former NBA star to advocate for the release of Griner, Rolling Stone reports.
President Joe Biden reacted immediately after Griner’s sentencing was announced earlier this month, saying: “Russia is wrongfully detaining Brittney. It’s unacceptable, and I call on Russia to release her immediately so she can be with her wife, loved ones, friends, and teammates.”
Biden said the White House will pursue “every possible avenue” to bring Griner home.
In a new statement, a White House official noted that Rodman’s involvement could complicate the deal the U.S. is already working on with Russia to secure Griner’s release.
“It’s public information that the administration has made a significant offer to the Russians and anything other than negotiating further through the established channel is likely to complicate and hinder release efforts,” the official said, Yahoo reports.
That deal involves an exchange of Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, who’s imprisoned in America, for Griner and U.S. Marine Corps veteran and former security executive Paul Whelan.
Griner faced up to 10 years in jail for the drug possession charge. As reported by CNN, prior to sentencing earlier this month, the two-time Olympic gold medalist apologized to the court and asked for leniency.
“I never meant to hurt anybody, I never meant to put in jeopardy the Russian population, I never meant to break any laws here,” Griner said in the Khimki city courthouse, near Moscow. “I made an honest mistake and I hope that in your ruling that it doesn’t end my life here. I know everybody keeps talking about political pawn and politics, but I hope that that is far from this courtroom.
“I want to say again that I had no intent on breaking any Russian laws. I had no intent. I did not conspire or plan to commit this crime,” she added.
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