*Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons sparked online backlash last week following his comments about Brittney Griner‘s release from a Russian prison.
Griner’s release was announced on Dec. 8, as part of a trade with the United States for arms dealer Viktor Bout. The Biden Administration attempted to secure her release along with former American marine Paul Whelan.
Whelan has been detained in Russia for four years. President Biden noted that Russia declined to release him as officials are handling his case differently.
“We’ve not forgotten about Paul Whelan, who’s been unjustly detained in Russia for years,” Biden said in a news conference, Black Enterprise reports.
READ MORE: Great News! Brittney Griner Released from Russian Penal Colony After Prisoner Swap
Wait nah!! We left a marine?!! Hell nah https://t.co/3AeQx8K9OZ
— Micah Parsons (@MicahhParsons11) December 8, 2022
“This was not a choice of which American to bring home. We brought home Trevor Reed when we had the chance earlier this year. Sadly, for illegitimate reasons, Russia is treating Paul’s case differently than Brittney’s,” the president continued.
Parsons reacted on Twitter, writing “Wait nah!! We left a marine?!! Hell nah”.
After receiving backlash for the tweet, Parsons apologized: “My last tweet was no shot at Brittney Griner,” he wrote.
“I’m super happy she’s back home as she should be. I just have family who have served and it’s crazy to me the President wouldn’t bring him home too. I’m the furthest thing from a trump supporter but I’m not a fan of Biden either,” Parson added.
Parsons later admitted that he “should have been more educated on the topic” before speaking out.
“Just spoke to some people that I respect and trust. I should have been more educated on the topic and not tweeted out of emotion for my family and other who have served. For that I apologize,” he said. “Also if what I’m told about the attempts to bring Ret Marine Paul Whelan home are true then the best outcome was accomplished. I pray Mr. Whelan comes home but am extremely happy for Brittney and her family.”
“I am not too prideful to admit when I’ve made a mistake,” he said.
Griner was in Russia to play basketball for UMMC Ekaterinburg in Moscow when she was arrested on Feb. 17 for drug possession. She was busted at the Sheremetyevo International Airport for allegedly having h 0.702 grams of cannabis oil in her luggage.
Griner was ultimately convicted and sentenced to nine years in a Russian detention center. The penal colony where She was detained was described as hell on earth.
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