Griner arrived at the court in the city of Khimki, on the outskirts of Moscow, in handcuffs and wearing a Jimi Hendrix T-shirt, accompanied by her legal team. The judge heard testimony from witnesses during a three-hour hearing before announcing that the trial would continue on July 7. Griner, who plays for a Russian basketball team in the WNBA’s off-season, was arrested in February at Moscow International Airport just days before Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, sending relations with the United States into a tailspin. WNBA basketball superstar Brittney Griner arrives for a court hearing in Khimki, outside Moscow, July 1, 2022. KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP/Getty After an airport sniffer dog found vapor cartridges in his luggage, authorities later said they contained a “significant amount” of cannabis-derived oil. Marijuana is illegal in Russia for recreational and medical use, and possession carries heavy penalties. Griner has not made any public statements since her arrest, and her position on whether she accepts or denies the charge remains unclear. US Chargé d’Affaires Elizabeth Rudd attended Friday’s court hearing and told reporters afterward that Griner was “keeping the faith.” Rudd said she spoke with Griner and the basketball player was doing “as expected.” “The Russian Federation has unjustly detained Brittney Griner,” Rood said. “The practice of illegal detention is unacceptable wherever it occurs and poses a threat to the safety of all who travel, work and live abroad.” Rudd added that the US government is working at the “highest level” to “bring Britney and all illegally detained US citizens safely home.” Most media were barred from the courtroom on Friday, which the court said was done at Griner’s request, according to Mediazona, which covers justice in Russia. Russia expert Jeff Hawn told CBS News this week that Russia was effectively holding Griner “hostage.” “It’s very clear that they didn’t have to exercise the seriousness of the charges as they did,” he told CBS News senior foreign correspondent Charlie D’Agata. “They chose to do this to get the US’s attention and threaten it with the worst possible outcome.” Biden says the US military is significantly increasing its deployments in Europe 02:53 With relations between Moscow and Washington at an all-time low since the days of the Cold War, Griner’s family and teammates had kept a low profile to avoid drawing public attention to her case and potentially making it even more valuable. advantage for Russian propaganda. In May, however, the US State Department declared her wrongful detention and assigned oversight of her case to the president’s special envoy for hostage affairs. The Kremlin on Friday rejected the idea that Griner’s case was politically motivated. “It cannot be politically motivated,” presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in a briefing. “She was in possession of illegal drugs containing narcotic substances.” Griner’s wife, Sherrell, told the Rev. Al Sharpton on his radio show this week that she had not heard her partner’s voice since he was taken into custody, but shared that Griner had conveyed to her through letters that he was “struggling and terrified.” “I won’t let them break me,” Griner said in the letters, according to Cherelle. “I know they’re trying, but I’ll do my best to hold on until I can get home.” “I hope it’s quick,” said Sherrell, “because I’m not well.” Griner’s supporters have urged the Biden administration to facilitate a prisoner swap similar to the one that freed former U.S. Marine Trevor Reed in exchange for Konstantin Yaroshenko, a Russian pilot serving a 20-year sentence for drug trafficking, in April. Brother of imprisoned American Paul Whelan wants to get him out of Russia before his parents die 07:25 Russian media have speculated that Moscow could seek to swap Griner for notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. The so-called “Death Merchant” is currently serving a 25-year prison sentence in the US for conspiring to kill Americans and aiding a terrorist organization. Another former US Marine remains in custody in Russia: Paul Whelan is serving a 16-year prison sentence on espionage charges. The US government has said it is being used as a bargaining chip in potential negotiations between Moscow and Washington. More