Richardson “cautiously optimistic” about Griner, Whelan negotiations

The big picture: Richardson, the former New Mexico governor and diplomat, reportedly visited Russia last month, while the U.S. government cautioned that "private citizens should not be in Russia at all right now."

• When asked about the prospect of a Richardson trip to Russia, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told CNN: "Our message is that private citizens should not be in Russia at all right now and that private citizens cannot negotiate on behalf of the United States government."
• "We share Mr. Richardson's desire to see Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan home with their families ... and we're working very, very hard to do that, through government channels. That's the appropriate way to do that," Kirby said.
• Richardson has been involved in negotiating the release of several Americans detained abroad through the Richardson Center for Global Engagement.

What he's saying: Richardson, in response to Kirby's remarks, last month said: "I'm not part of the government, the government channel, I've always made that clear, I respect that."

• "I'm not going to interfere in their process," Richardson said of the Biden administration's efforts to secure the release of Whelan and Griner.

Go deeper... Brittney Griner has suffered to "the max" in Russia, wife says