Dennis Rodman plans to travel to Russia to seek release of Brittney Griner
Former NBA player Dennis Rodman said Saturday he is planning to travel to Russia to request the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner, according to NBC News.
Rodman told NBC News that he “got permission” to go to Russia to help Griner, a Houston native who was sentenced to nine years in prison for drug possession. He added that he is “trying to go this week.”
NBC News said it reached out to the White House for comment on Rodman’s plans to travel to Russia.
The U.S. State Department has issued a travel advisory that says American citizens should not travel to Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.
Rodman, the former NBA champion, has made headlines in the past for his controversial meetings with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. Rodman also called Russian President Vladimir Putin “cool” following a 2014 trip to Moscow, according to Axios.
Griner, 31, has been in custody since Feb. 17, when law enforcement in Russia said they found vape cannisters in her luggage at Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow. Griner said she inadvertently put them in her luggage before flying to Russia to play for UMMC Yekaterinburg.
Griner later pleaded guilty to the charges but said she had no intention of committing a crime, according to the Associated Press. She was sentenced Aug. 4 to nine years in prison. Her lawyers have appealed the sentence.
President Joe Biden called Griner’s sentencing “unacceptable” and reiterated that she is wrongfully detained.
Russia’s foreign ministry said on Thursday that it is engaging in “quiet diplomacy” with the U.S. on a potential prisoner swap, according to Reuters. The potential swap would include Griner and Paul Whelan, a former Marine who has been detained in Russia on espionage charges since 2018.
Griner began her career at Nimitz High School in Aldine ISD. The 6-foot-8 center has won an NCAA championship, a WNBA championship and two Olympic gold medals.
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Russian prosecutors seek 9 1/2-year sentence for GrinerAlexander Zemlianichenko
FILE - WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner leaves a courtroom after a hearing, in Khimki just outside Moscow, May 13, 2022. More than four months after she was arrested at a Moscow airport for cannabis possession, Griner is to appear in court Monday, June 27, 2022 for a preliminary hearing ahead of her trial. The Phoenix Mercury star, considered in some polls to be the United States’ most gifted female athlete, could face 10 years in prison if convicted on charges of large-scale transportation of drugs. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, file)
Alexander ZemlianichenkoFILE - WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner leaves a courtroom after a hearing, in Khimki just outside Moscow, May 13, 2022. More than four months after she was arrested at a Moscow airport for cannabis possession, Griner is to appear in court Monday, June 27, 2022 for a preliminary hearing ahead of her trial. The Phoenix Mercury star, considered in some polls to be the United States’ most gifted female athlete, could face 10 years in prison if convicted on charges of large-scale transportation of drugs. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, file)
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Russian prosecutors seek 9 1/2-year sentence for GrinerAlexander Zemlianichenko
WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner is escorted to a courtroom for a hearing, in Khimki just outside Moscow, Russia, Friday, July 1, 2022. U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner is set to go on trial in a Moscow-area court Friday. The proceedings that are scheduled to begin Friday come about 4 1/2 months after she was arrested on cannabis possession charges at an airport while traveling to play for a Russian team. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
Alexander ZemlianichenkoWNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner is escorted to a courtroom for a hearing, in Khimki just outside Moscow, Russia, Friday, July 1, 2022. U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner is set to go on trial in a Moscow-area court Friday. The proceedings that are scheduled to begin Friday come about 4 1/2 months after she was arrested on cannabis possession charges at an airport while traveling to play for a Russian team. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
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Russian prosecutors seek 9 1/2-year sentence for GrinerEvgenia Novozhenina
WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner is escorted to a courtroom for a hearing, in Khimki just outside Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, July 26, 2022. American basketball star Brittney Griner returns Tuesday to a Russian courtroom for her drawn-out trial on drug charges that could bring her 10 years in prison if convicted. (Evgenia Novozhenina/Pool Photo via AP)
Evgenia NovozheninaWNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner is escorted to a courtroom for a hearing, in Khimki just outside Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, July 26, 2022. American basketball star Brittney Griner returns Tuesday to a Russian courtroom for her drawn-out trial on drug charges that could bring her 10 years in prison if convicted. (Evgenia Novozhenina/Pool Photo via AP)
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Russian prosecutors seek 9 1/2-year sentence for GrinerEvgenia Novozhenina
WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner greets her lawyers in a courtroom for a hearing, in Khimki just outside Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022. Since Brittney Griner last appeared in her trial for cannabis possession, the question of her fate expanded from a tiny and cramped courtroom on Moscow's outskirts to the highest level of Russia-US diplomacy. (Evgenia Novozhenina/Pool Photo via AP)
Evgenia NovozheninaWNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner greets her lawyers in a courtroom for a hearing, in Khimki just outside Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022. Since Brittney Griner last appeared in her trial for cannabis possession, the question of her fate expanded from a tiny and cramped courtroom on Moscow's outskirts to the highest level of Russia-US diplomacy. (Evgenia Novozhenina/Pool Photo via AP)
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Russian prosecutors seek 9 1/2-year sentence for GrinerAlexander Zemlianichenko
WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner is escorted in a court room prior to a hearing, in Khimki just outside Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022. American basketball star Brittney Griner was back in court on Tuesday for her trial for cannabis possession amid U.S. diplomatic efforts to secure her release. During the hearing, prosecutors called a state narcotics expert who analyzed cannabis found in Griner's luggage. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
Alexander ZemlianichenkoWNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner is escorted in a court room prior to a hearing, in Khimki just outside Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022. American basketball star Brittney Griner was back in court on Tuesday for her trial for cannabis possession amid U.S. diplomatic efforts to secure her release. During the hearing, prosecutors called a state narcotics expert who analyzed cannabis found in Griner's luggage. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
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Russian prosecutors seek 9 1/2-year sentence for GrinerAlexander Zemlianichenko
FILE - WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner is escorted to a courtroom for a hearing, in Khimki outside Moscow, Russia, Thursday, July 7, 2022. Closing arguments in Brittney Griner's cannabis possession case in Russia are set for Thursday. That's nearly six months after the American basketball star was arrested at a Moscow airport in a case that has reached the highest levels of U.S.-Russia diplomacy. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File)
Alexander ZemlianichenkoFILE - WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner is escorted to a courtroom for a hearing, in Khimki outside Moscow, Russia, Thursday, July 7, 2022. Closing arguments in Brittney Griner's cannabis possession case in Russia are set for Thursday. That's nearly six months after the American basketball star was arrested at a Moscow airport in a case that has reached the highest levels of U.S.-Russia diplomacy. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File)
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Russian prosecutors seek 9 1/2-year sentence for GrinerAlexander Zemlianichenko
FILE - WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner holds images standing in a cage at a court room prior to a hearing, in Khimki just outside Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, July 27, 2022. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, Pool, File)
Alexander ZemlianichenkoFILE - WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner holds images standing in a cage at a court room prior to a hearing, in Khimki just outside Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, July 27, 2022. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, Pool, File)
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Russian prosecutors seek 9 1/2-year sentence for GrinerAlexander Zemlianichenko
FILE - WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner is escorted to a courtroom for a hearing, in Khimki just outside Moscow, Russia, Thursday, July 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File)
Alexander ZemlianichenkoFILE - WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner is escorted to a courtroom for a hearing, in Khimki just outside Moscow, Russia, Thursday, July 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File)
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Russian prosecutors seek 9 1/2-year sentence for GrinerAlexander Zemlianichenko
WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner, center, is escorted in a court room prior to a hearing, in Khimki just outside Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022. Closing arguments in Brittney Griner's cannabis possession case are set for Thursday, nearly six months after the American basketball star was arrested at a Moscow airport in a case that reached the highest levels of US-Russia diplomacy. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
Alexander ZemlianichenkoWNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner, center, is escorted in a court room prior to a hearing, in Khimki just outside Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022. Closing arguments in Brittney Griner's cannabis possession case are set for Thursday, nearly six months after the American basketball star was arrested at a Moscow airport in a case that reached the highest levels of US-Russia diplomacy. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
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Russian prosecutors seek 9 1/2-year sentence for GrinerAlexander Zemlianichenko
WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner, center, is escorted in a court room prior to a hearing, in Khimki just outside Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022. Closing arguments in Brittney Griner's cannabis possession case are set for Thursday, nearly six months after the American basketball star was arrested at a Moscow airport in a case that reached the highest levels of US-Russia diplomacy. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
Alexander ZemlianichenkoWNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner, center, is escorted in a court room prior to a hearing, in Khimki just outside Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022. Closing arguments in Brittney Griner's cannabis possession case are set for Thursday, nearly six months after the American basketball star was arrested at a Moscow airport in a case that reached the highest levels of US-Russia diplomacy. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
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Russian prosecutors seek 9 1/2-year sentence for GrinerEvgenia Novozhenina
WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner stands in a cage in a courtroom prior to a hearing in Khimki just outside Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022. Closing arguments in Brittney Griner's cannabis possession case are set for Thursday, nearly six months after the American basketball star was arrested at a Moscow airport in a case that reached the highest levels of US-Russia diplomacy. (Evgenia Novozhenina/Pool Photo via AP)
Evgenia NovozheninaWNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner stands in a cage in a courtroom prior to a hearing in Khimki just outside Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022. Closing arguments in Brittney Griner's cannabis possession case are set for Thursday, nearly six months after the American basketball star was arrested at a Moscow airport in a case that reached the highest levels of US-Russia diplomacy. (Evgenia Novozhenina/Pool Photo via AP)
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Dennis Rodman plans to travel to Russia to seek release of Brittney GrinerAP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File
FILE - Former NBA basketball player Dennis Rodman arrives at Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, Saturday, June 17, 2017, after a flight from Pyongyang.
AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, FileFILE - Former NBA basketball player Dennis Rodman arrives at Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, Saturday, June 17, 2017, after a flight from Pyongyang.
