By: Nina Cray
Former NBA Champion Dennis Rodman, 61, says he doesn’t plan to travel to Russia to help Brittney Griner, despite him previously stating otherwise.
On Saturday, Rodman made headlines by announcing to NBC News that he had permission “to go to Russia to help that girl.”
Two days after his initial announcement, Rodman’s rescue mission balloon was popped when State Department spokesperson Ned Price hinted that meddling in the already tense affair would not be welcomed.
“We believe that anything other than negotiating further through the established channel is likely to complicate and hinder those release efforts,” Price said on Monday during a press conference.
Griner, 31, was convicted on August 4th of smuggling drugs into Russia after cannabis oil vape cartridges were found in her luggage at the airport.
Her lawyer said an appeal has been filed after the two-time Olympian argued that she had the contraband in her luggage by mistake and there was no criminal intent.
Sources:
Farberov, Snejana. August 25, 2022. New York Post. “Dennis Rodman backpedals on Russia trip to help free Brittney Griner.” <https://nypost.com/2022/08/25/dennis-rodman-backpedals-on-russia-trip-to-help-free-brittney-griner/>
