Peter Doocy asks the questions we are all thinking about Brittney Griner prisoner swap: 'Why did Russia get such a better deal?'

Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy interrogated White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Thursday over President Joe Biden's decision to swap Brittney Griner for Viktor "Merchant of Death" Bout.

The decision is controversial because the swap left retired U.S. Marine Paul Whelan sitting in a Russian prison. Most people had believed that if the U.S. were to give up Bout, the swap would be for Whelan.

What did Doocy ask?

At the White House press briefing, Doocy wasted no time getting down to brass tacks.

"In this prisoner swap, why did Russia get such a better deal?" he asked.

Jean-Pierre responded by repeating the Biden administration's narrative, that is, the claim that Moscow only gave the administration one choice. "Our choices was: Brittney or no one at all. Bring home one American or no American at all," she said.

"They gave up a professional athlete," Doocy countered, referring to Griner. "We gave up a prolific arms dealer who was convicted of trying to kill Americans."

"The professional athlete is also an American citizen — so let’s not forget that — who deserved —" Jean-Pierre responded before Doocy interjected.

"And Paul Whelan is an American citizen," he fired back. "So we could do this all day."

12/08/22: Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierreyoutu.be

According to Jean-Pierre, the Russian government has treated the situation in a "totally illegitimately" way regarding Whelan, but Biden ultimately "felt that this was an opportunity to bring Brittney home."

"He is going to continue to do everything he can to bring Paul Whelan home," she said.

"How can you say that he’s going to do everything that he can if he said, just a few days ago, he’s not going to call up Vladimir Putin until further notice?" Doocy followed up.

The Fox News reporter was referring to Biden saying last week that he will only speak to Vladimir Putin if the Russian dictator wants to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. Jean-Pierre responded that U.S. diplomats are working "through different channels" to try to secure Whelan's release.

Anything else?

Whelan himself is frustrated that Biden is not doing more to secure his release.

"I am greatly disappointed that more has not been done to secure my release, especially as the four-year anniversary of my arrest is coming up," Whelan told CNN on Thursday after Griner's release.

"I don’t understand why I’m still sitting here," he exclaimed.