Former NBA player Dennis Rodman says he has permission to visit Russia in the hope of freeing Brittney Griner.
“I got permission to go to Russia to help that girl,” Rodman told NBC News at a restaurant in D.C. “I’m trying to go this week.”
Rodman, who first met huge sports fan Vladimir Putin in 2014 called the Russian leader "cool as f*ck" after a 2014 trip to Moscow where he praised "hot-ass Russians," according to RT.
Not Rodman's First Rodeo
This is not Rodman's first prisoner release nor diplomacy-building effort. He undertook a series of informal diplomacy efforts with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un over the past decade to help ease his strained relations with the U.S., that is until Trump became the first US president to step foot in North Korea three years ago and elevated their relationship into the BFF zone. Rodman was on the scene when Trump met with Kim in Singapore.
The flashy Rodman also credited himself with helping to secure the release of Korean-American Evangelical Christian Missionary Kenneth Bae, who'd been detained in North Korea for 735 days.
Meanwhile, Bill Richardson - former New Mexico governor and former U.S. ambassador to the UN - said last month that he was optimistic about a "two-for-two" prisoner swap involving the WNBA superstar Griner and former Marine Paul Whelan.
Since then, both the Kremlin and the White House have confirmed that prisoner swap negotiations are underway.
Photo: Hhuangweiqing by Wikimedia Commons
© 2025 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Comments
Trade confidently with insights and alerts from analyst ratings, free reports and breaking news that affects the stocks you care about.
Cannabis is evolving – don’t get left behind!
Curious about what’s next for the industry and how to leverage California’s unique market?
Join top executives, policymakers, and investors at the Benzinga Cannabis Market Spotlight in Anaheim, CA, at the House of Blues on November 12. Dive deep into the latest strategies, investment trends, and brand insights that are shaping the future of cannabis!
Get your tickets now to secure your spot and avoid last-minute price hikes.