WNBA star Brittney Griner has received a letter from President Joe Biden as she awaits trial in Russia, her wife said.
Cherelle Griner said the president’s letter, a response to a letter the basketball star sent Monday pleading for his help, reassured Griner that she had not been forgotten.
“It brought me so much joy, as well as BG,” Cherelle Griner said, referencing her wife. “He sees her as a person and he has not forgotten her, which was her biggest cry in her letter.”
LAWYER CLAIMS KREMLIN WOULD SWAP GRINER AND WHELAN FOR RUSSIAN ARMS DEALER
The White House acknowledged Biden had read Griner’s letter Tuesday, one day after the Phoenix Mercury star wrote to Biden asking him not to give up on fighting to bring her home.
“[The president] offered his support to Cherelle and Brittney’s family, and he committed to ensuring they are provided with all possible assistance while his administration pursues every avenue to bring Brittney home,” the White House said Wednesday.
Excerpts from Griner’s letter showed she was “terrified” and feared she would never get out of the Russian prison.
“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 accomplishments, I’m terrified I might be here forever,” Griner wrote.
Griner also pleaded for Biden not to forget about her or the other U.S. citizens who have been wrongfully detained there.
No excerpts from Biden’s letter have been released.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
The Biden administration said getting Griner and other detained citizens back to U.S. soil was a top priority. Griner has spent over 139 days in prison after being detained in early February for allegedly transporting cannabis oil in her bag, which is illegal in Russia. Griner, who was visiting the country to play basketball for a women’s team in Russia during the WNBA’s offseason, pleaded guilty to transporting the oil Thursday but claimed she did not intend to break the law.
If convicted of the cannabis charge, Griner could face up to 10 years in prison.
