Dennis Rodman

The former NBA player has tried to cultivate an image as an informal U.S. diplomat to North Korea and Russia.

citizens by Russian government security officials" and the possibility of "wrongful detention." Rodman was in Washington for a sneaker convention. Rodman has cultivated a relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un over the past decade, making multiple visits to the hermit kingdom. has imposed stiff sanctions on Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine and is aiding Ukraine's forces. Rodman does not need special permission from the U.S. "I'm trying to go this week."

"I know Putin too well," he told NBC News. Background: Griner was found guilty on drug charges by a Russian court and sentenced to nine years in prison this ...

[Texas mandates donated "In God We Trust" displays in schools](/2022/08/21/texas-in-god-we-trust-schools) [upholding abortion rights](https://www.axios.com/2022/08/13/kansas-abortion-vote-recount-margin) following a partial recount Sunday, [per AP](https://apnews.com/article/abortion-voting-rights-health-election-recounts-elections-e874f56806a9d63b473b24580ad7ea0c). [wrongfully detained](https://www.axios.com/2022/05/03/wnba-brittany-griner-wrongfully-detained)by Russia. permission to go to Russia, but the U.S. [has advised Americans](https://www.axios.com/2022/03/05/state-department-travel-advisory-russia-ukraine)from entering the country. "I'm trying to go this week."

NBA hall of famer Dennis Rodman says he has permission to travel to Russia as he attempts to secure the release of fellow basketball star Brittney Griner.

Her lawyers have filed an appeal and there are understood to be separate talks underway [over a possible prisoner swap](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/aug/05/russia-ready-to-discuss-prisoner-swap-but-will-resist-pressure-to-free-brittney-griner). In 2014, he implied an American prisoner in North Korea, Kenneth Bae, deserved his punishment. “I’m trying to go this week.” He did not specify who had given him permission to travel to Russia. [was sentenced to nine years in Russian jail](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/aug/15/brittney-griner-lawyers-appeal-against-nine-year-russian-jail-sentence) for drug possession earlier this month. [the country’s president “cool”](https://www.eonline.com/news/605727/dennis-rodman-vladimir-putin-is-actually-cool). [Brittney Griner](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/brittney-griner).

As the fight to bring detained WNBA star Brittney Griner back to the United States continues, Dennis Rodman announced Saturday he plans to lend a helping ...

• The latest reports concerning the involvement of the U.S. The U.S. [pleading guilty](https://www.si.com/wnba/2022/07/07/brittney-griner-pleads-guilty-russian-court-drug-charges) to the drug charges in July, Griner was convicted of smuggling drugs with criminal intent on Aug. As of Sunday, Griner, whom the U.S. “I got permission to go to Russia to help that girl,” Rodman said.

Dennis Rodman will travel to Russia to attempt to convince Vladimir Putin to free Brittney Griner. That is a real, accurate sentence of what's happening in ...

So Salute," one fan added. "Watch him get the job done though. Griner, of course, has been imprisoned in Russia for the past several months.

The ex-Chicago Bulls star is just as famous around the world for his antics away from his legendary basketball career.

[ Kim he had a "friend for life"](https://www.newsweek.com/dennis-rodman-kim-jong-un-his-friend-throughout-years-984787) and claimed his relationship with the North Korea leader helped the release of American prisoner Kenneth Bae in 2014. Rodman and Amos reached an out-of-court settlement for $200,000 over the incident. In November 1999, Rodman and his then-wife Carmen Electra were both arrested over battery allegations following an incident at a hotel in Miami Beach, Florida. It was the No. In 1997, Rodman was suspended for 11 games after he kicked cameraman Eugene Amos during a Chicago Bulls game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Bae had been detained in the country for two years before being released along with fellow U.S. While defending his trip to another U.S. The visit arrived amid heightened tensions between the U.S. "I'm trying to go this week." citizens to leave Russia. [unofficial diplomat in U.S./North Korea relations](https://www.newsweek.com/dennis-rodman-north-korea-basketball-diplomacy-kim-jong-un-nba-sport-624930), is planning on traveling to Russia despite the State Department issuing a "do not travel" warning for the country amid the invasion of Ukraine, and warning all U.S. [NBC](https://www.newsweek.com/topic/nbc) News on Saturday that he has received permission to travel to Russia in order to negotiate a [deal for the release of Griner,](https://www.newsweek.com/brittney-griner-found-guilty-drug-charges-russian-court-1730898) who was jailed for possessing a vape containing cannabis oil cartridges.

Griner was sentenced to nine years in a Russian prison earlier in August after being found guilty of drug smuggling with criminal intent by a Russian court. She ...

Much of his behavior was documented in the popular [Netflix](https://www.newsweek.com/topic/netflix) [documentary The Last Dance](https://www.newsweek.com/espn-michael-jordan-last-dance-documentary-when-watch-1495196). [Michael Jordan](https://www.newsweek.com/topic/michael-jordan). [Antony Blinken](https://www.newsweek.com/topic/antony-blinken) said in July that the U.S. had made a "proposal" to seek the release of Griner and fellow American Paul Whelan, who is serving a 16-year sentence in Russia for espionage. Rodman was a prominent NBA player during his playing career when he was known for his actions both on and off the court. Rodman became a trending topic across social media after his plan to travel to the country was announced. "Um...does anyone have a better plan?" He was released in November 2014. He added: "I'm trying to go this week." Griner was sentenced to nine years in a Russian prison earlier in August after being found guilty of drug smuggling with criminal intent by a Russian court. A senior Biden administration official told NBC News that Rodman's actions are more likely to hurt Griner's cause than help her. He stated his intention to go within the next seven days.

The former NBA star — who's done some very unofficial diplomacy in North Korea — claims he got "permission" to travel to Russia and help the imprisoned WNBA ...

official [slammed the request](https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/29/politics/griner-whelan-russia-murderer-request/index.html) as a “bad faith” counteroffer. [having made](https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/dennis-rodmans-north-korea-visit-inspires-comedy-movie-diplomats-235320/) [numerous trips](https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/dennis-rodman-gives-president-trumps-art-of-the-deal-to-north-korean-leaders-200436/) to North Korea since 2013 and befriending leader Kim Jong-Un. Before Bae’s release, Rodman made some remarks in a TV interview that Bae may have deserved his imprisonment, which sparked outrage and also increased publicity of Bae’s plight. [NBC News](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/dennis-rodman-says-going-russia-seek-release-brittney-griner-rcna44106?cid=sm_npd_nn_tw_ma) reports, Rodman told reporters that he had “got permission to go to Russia to help that girl” and that he would try to leave sometime this week. It’s unclear who gave Rodman “permission” to go to Russia, and it doesn’t seem like it came from the White House. In a statement, a Biden administration official noted the U.S.

Dennis Rodman, the Hall of Fame former basketball player and occasional diplomat, hopes to travel to Russia this week to seek the release of Brittney Griner ...

However, the [lack of roster spots is an expanding problem](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/05/06/wnba-roster-expansion/?itid=lb_read-more-on-the-wnba_7). government is [characterizing Griner’s arrest as a “wrongful detainment.”](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/05/03/brittney-griner-status-wrongfully-detained/?itid=lb_read-more-on-the-wnba_2) As the WNBA season continues, [Griner’s absence should rattle the country](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/05/06/brittney-griner-wnba-russia/?itid=lb_read-more-on-the-wnba_3), writes Jerry Brewer. [players are hoping for owners who want to spend](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/06/21/wnba-expansion-owners-spending/?itid=lb_read-more-on-the-wnba_5). [Brittney Griner will stand trial](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/06/27/brittney-griner-trial-date/?itid=lb_read-more-on-the-wnba_1) starting July 1 in Russia. [Why do WNBA stars flock to Russia?](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/05/10/brittney-griner-russia-ummc-ekaterinburg/?itid=lb_read-more-on-the-wnba_4) It’s not just the money. [“wrongfully detained,”](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/05/03/brittney-griner-status-wrongfully-detained/?itid=lk_inline_manual_5) a designation that indicated the government would take more aggressive steps to negotiate her release. The Los Angeles Sparks forward and ESPN personality who just turned 30 has a checklist for her next 10 years that includes marriage, children and launching a media business. [tireless quest to have it all](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/03/30/chiney-ogwumike-wnba-espn-nba-analyst/?itid=lb_read-more-on-the-wnba_9). He traveled to Moscow in 2014 and called Russian President Vladimir Putin “cool.” When former president Donald Trump met with Kim in Singapore in 2018, Rodman was there. Prosecutors contended that the 0.702 grams of cannabis found in her luggage after she landed at Sheremetyevo International Airport was a “significant amount.” citizens in Russia by Russian government security officials, including for detention, the arbitrary enforcement of local law, limited flights into and out of Russia, the embassy’s limited ability to assist U.S. citizens by Russian government security officials, the singling out of U.S.

Dennis Rodman has met with foreign leaders like Kim Jong Un. Could he go to Russia to talk with Vladimir Putin and help Phoenix Mercury player Griner?

Phoenix Mercury player Brittney Griner, a WNBA champion and all-star, was arrested on drug charges back in February after being detained at Sheremetyevo ...

The White House doesn't want Dennis Rodman to 'help' get Brittney Griner released.

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Dennis Rodman, who calls himself a 'basketball ambassador', will visit Russia in an attempt to seek Griner's release.

“I’m trying to go this week.” The arrest came at a time of heightened tensions between Washington and Moscow, just days before Russia invaded Ukraine. Rodman also

There's no way Vladimir Putin bonds with Rodman like the basketball legend has with Kim Jong Un.

[signed on to sponsor his trip to North Korea](https://archive.thinkprogress.org/the-mysterious-charity-linked-to-dennis-rodman-s-north-korean-basketball-game-b6f0fc20db5c/). [prisoner swap](https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/27/politics/griner-whelan-biden-offer-viktor-bout-exchange-russia-arms-dealer/index.html), potentially trading the WNBA player and American executive Paul Whelan for [Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/us-exchange-brittney-griner-russian-arms-dealer-known-merchant-death-rcna36990). (It’s a darkly ironic connection given that Griner was sentenced for possessing less than a gram of marijuana oil in a vape cartridge.) Rodman (and PotCoin) had taken credit for [the release of American student Otto Warmbier](https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/meghara/meet-potcoin-the-weed-based-currency-that-says-they-sent), who was evacuated that June just as Rodman was beginning his trip. If Rodman does wind up going to Russia — and, honestly, it still seems like a big “if” to me — it won’t be for the right reasons. That alone should be enough for Rodman to backtrack on his plans. I reached out to Prince Marketing, a public relations firm that has worked with Rodman in the past and and Russia](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/us-made-substantial-proposal-russia-release-griner-whelan-blinken-says-rcna40322) that would bring Griner home. [sentenced to nine years in prison](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/brittney-griner-sentence-russia-prison-trial-rcna41270) this month on drug possession and smuggling charges. I’m not really seeing any chance of a similar connection with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is more of an [ice hockey and judo](https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/hayesbrown/but-can-vladimir-putin-pull-off-the-triple-deke) kind of guy. Even if Rodman does touch down in Moscow this week, it’s unclear who his point of contact would be for any back-channel talks. [WNBA star Brittney Griner](https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/brittney-griner-wife-cherelle-failed-biden-gop-n1296933). But there’s been nothing to suggest that he can achieve a breakthrough in Russia.

Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman told NBC he plans to travel to Russia to "help that girl." But experts doubt Rodman can do anything for Brittney Griner.

citizens in Russia by Russian government security officials including for detention, (and) the arbitrary enforcement of local law." The State Department has issued a "Do Not Travel" advisory for Russia, in part because of "the unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine by Russian military forces, the potential for harassment against U.S. But the United States acknowledged a “substantial offer” in July and Russia has also said negotiations involving Griner and Whelan have happened. “And there's always the chance that non-governmental actors will derail the Russia-US discussions. "I’m sorry to be so negative.” "I don’t have any sense of what he actually does," said Gilbert, a Rosenwald Fellow in U.S. citizens by Russian government security officials, the singling out of U.S. ambassador Bill Richardson are involved before the two nations are in discussions. “I just don’t know what they’re going to talk about,” said Pomeranz, the director of the Wilson Center's Kennan Institute, which studies Eurasia. State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters that Rodman would not be traveling on behalf of the U.S. The current task would be negotiating with Russia for the release of Griner, who was convicted on drug charges and Rodman, the enigmatic three-time NBA champion and Hall of Famer, made his first foray into attempting peace with U.S.

The United States is discouraging former NBA player Dennis Rodman from traveling to Russia to help secure the release of detained WNBA star Brittney Griner.

Asked about the status of the negotiations, Price said that U.S. "That has been our message to private Americans across the board." "We've made very clear, as we have publicly, that we proposed a substantial proposal, we called it, for the release of Paul Whelan and Brittney Griner." Rodman doesn't need permission from the U.S. Those discussions are ongoing," Price added. proposal to exchange convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout in return for Griner and Whelan. citizen Paul Whelan, who has been detained in Russia since 2019. The U.S. Rodman previously sought to make an impact on U.S. classified Griner's case as "wrongfully detained" in Russia on May and the Biden administration has been working to negotiate the WNBA star's release, as well as the release of U.S. foreign policy as an informal diplomat of sorts amid heated U.S. government."

Rodman has previously traveled to both North Korea and Russia in the past to engaged in informal diplomacy,and considers North Korea dictator Kim Jung Un a “ ...