THE U. S. HAS SECURED THE RELEASE OF BRITTNEY GRINER FROM RUSSIA, BUT METRO DETROIT’S PAUL
WHELAN IS STILL IMPRISONED AND
HE’S SPEAKING OUT. THE FBI
DIRECTOR ISSUES A WARNING TO
TIKTOK USERS ABOUT NATIONAL
SECURITY AND THE SECURITY OF
THEIR OWN PERSONAL INFORMATION.
AND FOR ONE METEOROLOGIST CAME.
ADAMS IS A DRY AFTERNOON HERE IN
METRO DETROIT, WITH TEMPERATURES
IN THE THIRTIES AND LOW FORTIES,
BUT WE ARE TRACKING SOME SNOW
HEADED TO METRO DETROIT. I’LL
TELL YOU HOW MUCH COMING UP IN
THE FORECAST LIVE FROM DOWNTOWN
DETROIT. LOCAL 4 NEWS FIRST AT
FOUR STARTS NOW. GOOD AFTERNOON
. AND THANKS FOR JOINING ME THE
BIG NEWS OF THE DAY. THE ORDEAL
IS FINALLY OVER FOR ONE OF THE
AMERICANS IMPRISONED IN RUSSIA,
W NBA STAR AND OLYMPIC GOLD
MEDALIST BRITTNEY GRINER IS FREE
TODAY AFTER THE BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION NEGOTIATED HER
RELEASE FROM RUSSIA.
JASON COLTHORPE IS LIVE IN THE
NEWSROOM WITH MORE ON THE
PRISONER EXCHANGE AND THE
REACTION TO IT. JASON COVER
HERE. KRISTIE BRITTNEY GRINER
HAS BEEN JAILED IN RUSSIA SINCE
FEBRUARY, WHEN POLICE AT AN
AIRPORT IN MOSCOW SAID THEY
FOUND VAPE CANISTERS. CONTAINING
CANNABIS OIL IN HER LUGGAGE. IN
AUGUST. HE WAS SENTENCED TO NINE
YEARS IN PRISON. TODAY SHE’S ON
A PLANE ON HER WAY HOME. WE HAVE
NEW VIDEO OF THE ACTUAL PRISONER
EXCHANGE TAKING PLACE IN THE
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES. PRESIDENT
BIDEN SAYS HE SIGNED OFF ON A
DEAL THAT HAD BEEN IN THE WORKS
FOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS. THAT
DEAL INCLUDES THE RELEASE OF A
FORMER SOVIET ARMY LIEUTENANT
NICKNAMED THE MERCHANT OF DEATH.
WHO HAS BEEN SERVING A 25 YEAR
SENTENCE ON CHARGES OF TRYING TO
SELL WEAPONS TO BE USED AGAINST
AMERICANS. THE PRESIDENT AND
VICE PRESIDENT ANNOUNCED THE
DEAL THIS MORNING AT THE WHITE
HOUSE WRITER’S WIFE, CHERYL
SPOKE ABOUT HER SENSE OF RELIEF.
OVER THE LAST NINE MONTHS. Y’ALL
HAVE BEEN, UM SO PRIVY TO ONE OF
THE DARKEST MOMENTS OF MY LIFE.
AND SO TODAY, I’M JUST STANDING
HERE. OVERWHELMED WITH THE
EMOTIONS, BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT
EMOTION THAT I HAVE RIGHT NOW IS
JUST SINCERE GRATITUDE FOR
PRESIDENT BIDEN AND HIS ENTIRE
ADMINISTRATION. WE DO UNDERSTAND
THAT THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE OUT
HERE WHO ARE ENDURING WHAT I
ENDURED THE LAST NINE MONTHS OF
MISSING TREMENDOUSLY THEIR LOVED
ONES. SO THANK YOU, EVERYBODY
FOR YOUR SUPPORT. AND TODAY IT’S
JUST A HAPPY DAY FOR ME AND MY
FAMILY, SO I AM GOING TO SMELL
RIGHT NOW. UM, THANK YOU. WELL
YOU JUST HEARD CHERYL GRINDER
MENTIONED OTHERS STILL WAITING
AND MISSING THEIR LOVED ONES.
WELL THAT WAS IN REFERENCE TO
METRO DETROIT NATIVE PAUL
WHELAN, WHO WAS ARRESTED IN
RUSSIA IN LATE 2018 AND HAS BEEN
HELD THERE EVER SINCE ACCUSED OF
SPYING. WHELAN HAD PREVIOUSLY
BEEN MENTIONED AS PART OF A
PACKAGE DEAL IN A PRISONER SWAP
INVOLVING GRINDER WHEEL AND WAS
ACTUALLY ABLE TO SPEAK BY PHONE
WITH CNN TODAY. I HAVE TO SAY 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. I WAS
ARRESTED FOR A CRIME THAT NEVER
OCCURRED. HAPPY THAT BRITNEY IS
GOING HOME TODAY AND THAT TREVOR
WENT HOME WHEN HE DID. BUT I
DON’T UNDERSTAND WHY I’M STILL
SITTING HERE. MY BAGS ARE PACKED
. I’M READY TO GO HOME. I JUST
NEED AN AIRPLANE TO COME AND GET
ME. WE NEVER FORGOT ABOUT
BRITTANY. WE HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN
ABOUT PAUL WHALEN, WHO HAS BEEN
ON JUSTLY DETAINED IN RUSSIA FOR
YEARS. THIS WAS NOT A CHOICE OF
WHICH AMERICAN TO BRING HOME. WE
BROUGHT HOME TREVOR READ WHEN WE
HAD A CHANCE EARLIER THIS YEAR.
SADLY FOR TOTALLY ILLEGITIMATE
REASONS. RUSSIA IS TREATING
PAUL’S CASE DIFFERENTLY THAN
BRITTANY’S AND WHAT WE HAVE NOT
YET SUCCEEDED IN SECURING POLLS
RELEASE. WE ARE NOT GIVING UP.
WE WILL NEVER GIVE UP. BUT
REMAIN IN CLOSE TOUCH WITH
PAUL’S FAMILY, THE WHEEL AND
FAMILY AND MY THOUGHTS AND
PRAYERS ARE WITH THEM TODAY, AND
THERE MAY BE SOMETHING TO THAT.
PAUL WELLENS, RUSSIAN LAWYER WAS
IN TOUCH WITH NBC NEWS TODAY,
SAYING NEGOTIATIONS ARE UNDERWAY
AND HE EXPECTS A PRISONER
EXCHANGE TO SET WHEELIN FREE
WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH OR TWO CAN
ONLY HOPE BUT AGAIN. THAT’S JUST
THE OPINION OF PAUL WHELAN’S
LAWYER. MUCH MORE TO COME ON
THIS STORY. YOU CAN BET CHRISTIE
BACK TO YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANKS
SO MUCH, JASON. WE’LL SEE YOU IN
A BIT. AND WE ARE HEARING FROM
THE WHEEL AND FAMILY THIS
AFTERNOON. PAUL’S BROTHER, DAVID
WHELAN SAYS HE IS GLAD THAT
BRITTNEY GRINER IS COMING HOME.
HE ALSO CONFIRMS THE WHITE HOUSE
HAS BEEN IN TOUCH, LETTING THE
FAMILY KNOW IN ADVANCE THAT PAUL
WOULD NOT BE PART OF THIS
EXCHANGE. IN A STATEMENT, DAVID
WHELAN SAYS, IN PART THAT EARLY
WARNING MEANT THAT OUR FAMILY
HAS BEEN ABLE TO MENTALLY
PREPARE FOR WHAT IS NOW A PUBLIC
DISAPPOINTMENT FOR US AND A
CATASTROPHE FOR PAUL. HE ALSO
SAYS THAT BIDEN ADMINISTRATION
MADE THE RIGHT DECISION TO BRING
MISS GRINER HOME AND TO MAKE THE
DEAL THAT WAS POSSIBLE RATHER
THAN WAITING FOR ONE THAT WAS
NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. WE WILL
HEAR MORE FROM DAVID WHEELAN IN
A LIVE REPORT AT FIVE O’CLOCK
TODAY. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT IS
HOSPITALIZED AFTER A HIT AND RUN
ACCIDENT IN WESTLAND. IT
HAPPENED AROUND QUARTER TO SEVEN
THIS MORNING AS THE 15 YEAR OLD
WAS CROSSING NEWBURG ROAD AT
MARQUETTE ON HER WAY TO JOHN
GLENN HIGH SCHOOL. POLICE SAY
SOMEONE IN AN SUV RAN A RED
LIGHT, HIT THE GIRL AND KEPT
GOING. THE TEAM WAS TAKEN TO ST
MARY’S HOSPITAL IN LIVONIA WITH
SERIOUS INJURIES. WESTLAND
POLICE SAY THEY HAVE LOCATED THE
SUSPECT TO DRIVER AND TAKING
THEM INTO CUSTODY. THERE ARE NEW
CRIMINAL SEXUAL CONDUCT CHARGES
AGAINST A LOCAL DOCTOR WHO GAVE
PHYSICALS TO YOUTH HOCKEY
PLAYERS. DOCTORS V. LEBRON WAS
ALREADY FACING 17 CHARGES
RELATED TO SEXUAL ABUSE OF
PATIENTS DURING MEDICAL EXAMS AT
HIS FARMING TO HILLS HOME NOW,
THE OAKLAND COUNTY PROSECUTOR
HAS ADDED A SECOND DEGREE CHARGE
FOR THE ASSAULT OF A 14 YEAR OLD
BOY IN JANUARY OF 2018. AND 1/4
DEGREE CHARGE FOR ASSAULTING A
30 YEAR OLD MAN IN DECEMBER OF
2020 LEBRON IS CURRENTLY HELD IN
THE OAKLAND COUNTY JAIL ON
MULTIPLE BONDS EXCEEDING $2
MILLION. A TIP LINE HAS BEEN SET
UP FOR POSSIBLE VICTIMS WHO HAVE
YET TO COME FORWARD THAT NUMBER
THERE IS THE BOTTOM OF YOUR
SCREEN AT 24887126. THEIR WINGS.
FOOTBALL STAR MASI SMITH,
PLEADING GUILTY TODAY TO A
MISDEMEANOR GUN CHARGE. SMITH
WAS CHARGED DECEMBER 1ST WITH
CARRYING A CONCEALED WEAPON
WITHOUT THE PROPER LICENSE
DURING A TRAFFIC STOP BACK IN
OCTOBER. THAT IS A FELONY. BUT
AS PART OF HIS PLEA BARGAIN,
SMITH PLED DOWN TO A SINGLE
CHARGE OF ATTEMPTED POSSESSION
OF A LOADED WEAPON WHILE IN A
MOTOR VEHICLE. HE IS SET TO BE
SENTENCED ON THE 29TH. THAT’S
JUST TWO DAYS BEFORE THE
WOLVERINES TAKE ON TCU IN THE
FIESTA BOWL UNIVERSITY, SAYS
THERE’S NO CHANGE TO SMITH
STATUS WITH THE TEAM. ALRIGHT IT
IS THAT TIME NOW FOR OUR FIRST
LOOK AT OUR FORECAST, AND HERE’S
KIM ADAMS. HI KIM CHRISTY BALL.
IT’S GOING TO BE AN EASY EVENING
COMMUTE AS IT IS DRY OUT THERE
RIGHT NOW, BUT IT’S CHILLY IN
SOME SPOTS. 36 IN PONTIAC 39 IN
ANN ARBOR, 38 IN MOUNT CLEMENS
HANGING ONTO 41, THOUGH AT CITY
AIRPORT AND ALSO AT METRO 40 IN
MONROE. IT’S A LITTLE COOLER
THAN IT WAS YESTERDAY BY NINE
DEGREES IN HOWELL, NINE DEGREES
COOLER IN PONTIAC, AS WELL IN
SEVEN DEGREES COOLER THAN IT WAS
THE SAME TIME YESTERDAY IN THE
CITY OF DETROIT. NOW WE’VE GOT A
LOT OF CLOUDS. IN PLACE
OVERNIGHT. TONIGHT WILL STAY
MOSTLY CLOUDY. BUT THE RAIN AND
SNOW WILL ALL STAY TO OUR SOUTH
UNTIL AT LEAST TOMORROW
AFTERNOON. SO IF YOU HAVE
EVENING PLANS TONIGHT, MAYBE
YOU’RE DOING A LITTLE CHRISTMAS
SHOPPING. TOTALLY FINE.
TEMPERATURES WILL STAY IN THE
THIRTIES. ALL THE WAY THROUGH
MIDNIGHT. WE’LL TALK MORE ABOUT
SNOW AND WHAT WE’RE EXPECTING
FOR THE DAYTIME TOMORROW. COMING
UP IN THE FORECAST SOUNDS GOOD.
KIM. WE’LL SEE YOU IN JUST A
BIT. I BILL PROTECTING SAME SEX
MARRIAGES IS ONE STEP CLOSER TO
BECOMING THE LAW OF THE LAND.
THE U. S HOUSE VOTED 258 TO 169
TODAY IN FAVOR OF THE RESPECT
FOR MARRIAGE ACT, WHICH REQUIRES
ALL STATES TO RECOGNIZE SAME SEX
MARRIAGES THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE
SINCE THE 2015 SUPREME COURT
RULING THAT LEGALIZED THOSE
UNIONS NATIONWIDE. THE BILL
PASSED BY THE SENATE LAST WEEK,
REQUIRES STATES TO RECOGNIZE
LEGAL MARRIAGES, REGARDLESS OF
QUOTE, SEX, RACE, ETHNICITY OR
NATIONAL ORIGIN. PRESIDENT BIDEN
AND HAS SAID HE WILL SIGN THE
BILL INTO LAW. ON THE
CORONAVIRUS FRONT. THE FDA HAS
NOW AUTHORIZED THE OMICRON
VARIANT VACCINES FOR CHILDREN AS
YOUNG AS SIX MONTHS OLD. THE
SHOTS TARGET THE B, A FIVE SUB
VARIANT AS WELL AS THE ORIGINAL
COVID STRAIGHT THE CENTERS FOR
DISEASE CONTROL STILL HAS TO
SIGN OFF ON THE SHOTS BEFORE
THEY CAN BE ADMINISTERED BY
PHARMACIES AND PHYSICIANS, AND
THE APPROVAL COMES AS COVID
INFECTIONS AND HOSPITALIZATIONS
ARE ON THE RISE NATIONALLY. WELL
TIKTOK IS ONE OF THE MOST
POPULAR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS
WITH SOMEWHERE BETWEEN ONE AND
TWO BILLION ACTIVE MONTHLY
USERS. AND IF YOU’RE NOT AUDIT,
CHANCES ARE YOUR KIDS ARE BUT
TODAY, THE MESSAGE FROM THE
DIRECTOR OF THE FBI IS THAT
USERS SHOULD THINK TWICE ABOUT
THAT APP. PAULA TUTMAN LOOKS
INTO THE CONCERNS. SOUNDING THE
ALARM ON TIKTOK. YEP ONE MORE
TIME. THE FBI’S DIRECTOR IS
JOINING A GROWING CHORUS
CAUTIONING THAT THIS PLATFORM IS
A NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT. THE
CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAS SHOWN A
WILLINGNESS TO STEAL AMERICANS
DATA ON A SCALE THAT DWARFS ANY
OTHER WELL SPEAKING AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, FBI
DIRECTOR CHRISTOPHER WRAY SAID.
THAT THE VIDEO SHARING APP
TIKTOK, WHICH IS OWNED BY
CHINESE COMPANY BITE, DANCE, IS
COLLECTING DATA FROM US USERS
FOR SPYING PURPOSES AND COULD
GAIN ACCESS TO YOUR DEVICE
THROUGH SOFTWARE. HE ALSO WARNS
THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT
COULD MANIPULATE CONTENT ON THE
APP WITH THIS RECOMMENDATION
ALGORITHM. ALL OF THESE THINGS
ARE IN THE HANDS OF A GOVERNMENT
THAT DOESN’T SHARE OUR VALUES.
LAST MONTH, THE FCC COMMISSIONER
ALSO CALLED FOR A NATIONWIDE
TIKTOK BAND AND EARLIER THIS
YEAR URGED APPLE AND GOOGLE TO
REMOVE THE APP FROM THEIR APP
STORES. AND LAST WEEK, SOUTH
DAKOTA’S GOVERNOR BANNED STATE
EMPLOYEES FROM USING THE APP ON
GOVERNMENT DEVICES. EXPERTS
RECOMMEND THAT YOU THINK TWICE
BEFORE DOWNLOADING IT ON YOUR
PHONE. YOU HAVE A CHINESE OWNED
APP THAT HAS INCREDIBLE AI. IT’S
VERY, VERY ADDICTIVE POLITICAL
RISK, CONSULTANT IAN BRENNAN
SAYS THE U. S WILL LIKELY TAKE A
MORE CAUTIOUS APPROACH AND SAYS
HE DOESN’T EXPECT THE U. S
GOVERNMENT TO SUDDENLY BANNED
TIKTOK. NATIONALLY THE U. S
WANTS TO GO AFTER ISSUES THAT
ARE OF DIRECT NATIONAL SECURITY
CONCERN TO THE UNITED STATES
LIKE VANCE SEMICONDUCTORS USED
BY THE MILITARY INDUSTRIAL
COMPLEX IN CHINA, AND HERE’S
SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
ABOUT THIS BECAUSE INDIANA’S
ATTORNEY GENERAL ON WEDNESDAY
ACTUALLY SUED THE CHINESE OWNED
APP TIKTOK FOR WHAT IT CALLS
DECEIVING USERS ABOUT CHINA’S
ACCESS TO THEIR DATA AND FOR
EXPOSING CHILDREN TO MATURE
CONTENT. AND THIS IS THE FIRST
STATE TO ACTUALLY HAVE A LAWSUIT
AGAINST THIS POPULAR APP AND
VIDEO SERVICE. PAULA TUTMAN FOUR