Washington (AFP) – The families of Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan have asked veteran US hostage negotiator Bill Richardson to seek their release from Russia, his office said Monday. According to news reports, the former US governor and ambassador, who has negotiated the freedom of several Americans held prisoner by other countries, will travel to Russia in the coming weeks for talks. Mickey Bergman, vice president of the Richardson Center for Global Engagement, would not confirm the reports. “What I can say is that both the Whelan and Griner families have asked us to help with the release of…