While the Biden administration has celebrated the release of Brittney Griner, some Republican lawmakers believe that Viktor Bout had committed crimes far too great to warrant the swap. As Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK) said, Biden may have aided “both sides of the war” between Russia and Ukraine, suggesting that Bout could return to his illegal arms trading to help Vladimir Putin.

Former President Donald Trump made headlines this past weekend when he said he rejected a deal from Russia to trade Paul Whelan, who has been imprisoned on espionage charges, for Viktor Bout.

“I turned down a deal with Russia for a one-on-one swap of the so-called Merchant of Death for Paul Whelan. I wouldn’t have made the deal for a hundred people in exchange for someone that has killed untold numbers of people with his arms deals,” Trump said on Truth Social.

As noted by the Hill, Paul Whelan’s brother, David, lauded the Biden administration for appearing “much more engaged in wrongful detentions” than the Trump administration.