Biden’s conversation with Griner’s wife, Cheryl Griner, followed Brittney Griner’s personal appeal to the US President in a handwritten letter from the basketball player that was received by the White House on Monday. In the letter, Griner acknowledged her fears that she would spend forever in Russian custody and asked Biden “not to forget about me and the other American prisoners.” Griner has been detained for four months and is on trial in Russia, accused of possessing vapor cartridges containing cannabis oil. The call came as Griner’s family has become more aggressive in pressuring the Biden administration in speaking out about her case, including through Brittney Griner’s letter to the president and several television interviews by Cheryl Griner, who said she does not believe the administration did enough. to bring her wife home. “The President called Cherelle to assure her that he is working to secure Brittney’s release as soon as possible, as well as the release of Paul Whelan and other US citizens illegally held or held hostage in Russia and around the world,” White stated. House said in a statement. “He also read her a draft of the letter the President is sending to Brittney Griner today.” Biden offered his support to the family and pledged to make sure they get “all the help possible” while the administration continues steps to win Brittney Griner’s release, the White House said. WATCH l Griner in the middle of a trial on a charge of possession of hemp oil:
US basketball star Brittney Griner appears in Russian court
US women’s basketball star Brittney Griner appeared in a Russian court on Friday to face cannabis possession charges. If convicted, she could face up to 10 years behind bars. The US Embassy’s deputy chief of mission supported Griner in court, saying the Russian Federation has wrongfully detained the WNBA player. Griner, 31, is in the midst of a trial in Russia that began last week after she was arrested on February 17 on charges of possessing cannabis oil while returning to play for her Russian team. The trial is scheduled to resume Thursday. Less than one percent of defendants in Russian criminal cases are acquitted, and unlike in American courts, acquittals can be overturned.
The athlete’s condition is “personal” for Biden
Cherelle Griner told CBS Mornings in an interview Tuesday that it was “frustrating” for her that she had yet to hear from Biden during Brittney Griner’s detention. A representative for Cherelle Griner did not immediately respond to a text message from The Associated Press. Cherelle Griner was scheduled to speak publicly Wednesday night at a rally in Phoenix hosted by Brittney Griner’s WNBA team. White House press secretary Karin Jean-Pierre told reporters Wednesday that Biden “clearly had a need to see every American illegally detained or held hostage abroad released, including Brittney Griner.” “That was the focus of the president,” he said. Jean-Pierre added that Biden is being updated daily on the status of efforts to win the freedom of Brittney Griner and other Americans the US government believes are being wrongfully held in Russia and elsewhere. Brittney Griner’s representatives on Monday shared excerpts from her letter to the President. In one he wrote: “As I sit here in a Russian prison, alone with my thoughts and without the protection of my wife, family, friends, Olympic jersey or any achievement, I fear I may be here forever. “
Discussion of prisoner exchange
The letter was delivered to the White House on July 4, which Brittney Griner said was a special day for her family. “On the Fourth of July, our family usually honors the services of those who fought for our freedom, including my father who is a Vietnam War veteran,” the center told the Phoenix Mercury. “It pains me to think about how I usually celebrate this day because freedom means something completely different to me this year.” Griner’s supporters have encouraged a prisoner swap like the one in April that brought home Marine veteran Trevor Reed in exchange for a Russian pilot convicted of a drug-trafficking conspiracy. Russian media have repeatedly speculated that he could be traded for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, who is serving a 25-year prison sentence for conspiring to kill US citizens and providing aid to a terrorist organization. Russia has been agitating for Bout’s release for years. However, the wide divergence between Griner’s case – involving the alleged possession of vapor cartridges containing cannabis oil – and Bout’s global dealings in lethal weapons could make such an exchange unpalatable to the US Others suggested he could be swapped with Whelan, a former Marine and security director serving a 16-year sentence for being convicted of spying for what the US has repeatedly described as an organization.
