Sheila Jackson Lee: “Last week, I viewed a wall that showed Brittney Griner and a list of hostages, American citizens, held around the world.…”

“Last week, I viewed a wall that showed Brittney Griner and a list of hostages, American citizens, held around the world. A few weeks ago, the United States House went on record to demand the release of Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan. I have always argued that the sovereignty of the United States should insist on the freedom of its citizens. Now, we find that it has been made public what we have known and what we have pressed for: The United States is actively negotiating to bring Brittney, BG, and Paul Whelan home. It is crucial to let it be known that we are negotiating with an entity that does not want to be fair. So, we demand that Russia be fair and negotiate the freedom of Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan. She sits in a cage, a cage when they transport her and a cage when she is in trial. Obviously, the case is that this was a mistake, and there is no basis for her conviction. We know that everyone that goes to trial in Russia is convicted, found guilty. Free her now. Free Paul Whelan. As I close, I acknowledge the Americans with Disabilities Act on its 32nd anniversary. It is an important law. ____________________”