Griner’s agent, Lindsay Kagawa Colas, said the letter was delivered Monday. Most of the contents of the letter to President Biden remain private, although Griner’s representatives shared a few lines from the handwritten note. “Sitting 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,” Griner wrote. “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 Phoenix Mercury center added. “It pains me to think about how I usually celebrate this day because freedom means something completely different to me this year.” The two-time Olympic gold medalist 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 will continue on Thursday. Less than 1 percent of defendants in Russian criminal cases are acquitted, and unlike in American courts, acquittals can be overturned. WATCH l Brittney Griner’s trial begins:
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. The White House National Security Council confirmed that the White House received Griner’s letter. “We believe the Russian Federation is unjustly detaining Brittney Griner,” NSC spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said Monday. “President Biden has been clear about the need to release all American citizens held hostage or wrongfully held abroad, including Brittney Griner. The US government continues to work aggressively – using every means available – to bring her home. “ Griner implored Biden in the letter to use his powers to secure her return. “Please do what you can to bring us home. I voted for the first time in 2020 and I voted for you. I believe in you. I still have so much to do with my freedom that you can help restore,” said Griner “I miss my wife! I miss my family! I miss my teammates! It kills me to know they are suffering so much right now. I am grateful for anything you can do right now to bring me home. “ Griner was able to have sporadic communications with family, friends and WNBA players through an email account set up by her agent. The emails are printed and delivered in bundles to Griner by her lawyer after they are vetted by Russian officials. Once the lawyers are back in their office, they will scan any responses from Griner and take them back to the US to send along. He was supposed to have a phone call with his wife on their anniversary, but it fell through because of an “unfortunate mistake,” Biden administration officials said. 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. The State Department in May designated her a wrongful detainer, moving her case under the supervision of its special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, effectively the administration’s chief hostage negotiator. Griner is not the only American wrongfully detained in Russia. Paul Whelan, ex-marine and security director is serving a 16-year sentence for espionage.
