Biden tells Brittney Griner’s wife he’s working to get WNBA star out of Russia
President Joe Biden spoke Wednesday with the spouse of detained WNBA participant Brittney Griner, who’s on trial in Russia, and warranted her that that he’s working to win Griner’s freedom as quickly as potential, the White Home mentioned.
Biden’s dialog with Griner’s spouse, Cherelle Griner, adopted Brittney Griner’s private enchantment to the U.S. President in a handwritten letter from the basketball participant the White Home acquired on Monday. Within the letter, Griner acknowledged her fears she would spend eternally in detention in Russia and requested Biden not “neglect about me and the opposite American Detainees.”
Griner has been detained for 4 months and is presently on trial in Russia, accused of possessing vape cartridges containing hashish oil.
“The President referred to as Cherelle to reassure her that he’s working to safe Brittney’s launch as quickly as potential, in addition to the discharge of Paul Whelan and different U.S. nationals who’re wrongfully detained or held hostage in Russia and around the globe,” the White Home mentioned in an announcement. “He additionally learn her a draft of the letter the President is sending to Brittney Griner right this moment.”
Biden supplied his assist to the household and dedicated to creating certain they obtain “all potential help” whereas the administration pursues steps to win Brittney Griner’s launch, the White Home mentioned.
WATCH l Griner in midst of trial on fees of possessing hashish oil:
U.S. ladies’s basketball star Brittney Griner appeared in Russian courtroom Friday to face hashish possession fees. If convicted, she may resist 10 years behind bars. Deputy chief of mission of the U.S. Embassy supported Griner in courtroom, saying the Russian Federation has wrongfully detained the WNBA participant.
Griner is within the midst of a trial in Russia that started final week after she was arrested on Feb. 17 on fees of possessing hashish oil whereas returning to play for her Russian staff. The trial is scheduled to renew Thursday.
Fewer than one per cent of defendants in Russian felony circumstances are acquitted, and in contrast to in U.S. courts, acquittals may be overturned.
Cherelle Griner instructed CBS Mornings in an interview Tuesday it was “disheartening” to her she had but to listen to from Biden throughout Brittney Griner’s detention.
