“The President called Cherelle to reassure her that he is working to secure Brittney’s release as soon as possible, as well as the release of Paul Whelan and other U.S. nationals who are wrongfully detained or held hostage in Russia and around the world,” the White House mentioned.
In a letter delivered to Biden on Monday, Brittney Griner, 31, expressed concern about not figuring out how lengthy she will probably be detained and urged the president to work for her release and that of different Americans detained overseas.
“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,” she wrote.
According to the White House, throughout the name Wednesday, Biden “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.”
“Today’s call follows recent calls that national security adviser [Jake] Sullivan and Secretary of State [Antony] Blinken have had with Cherelle in recent weeks and this past weekend,” the White House mentioned, including that Biden had directed his nationwide safety staff to stay in common contact with Brittney Griner’s household.
Nearly 1,200 outstanding Black girls signed a letter to Biden and Harris urging the administration to secure Griner’s release from a Russian jail, an escalation of a strain marketing campaign by the WNBA star’s supporters that comes as her trial proceeds in a court docket outdoors Moscow.
The letter, which was delivered to the White House on Tuesday afternoon, was signed by a group of Black feminine leaders from the realms of sports activities, leisure, labor, enterprise, politics and religion. It claimed that Griner is “enduring inhumane conditions” throughout her imprisonment and mentioned, “It is imperative, President Biden, that you address this ongoing human rights crisis and make a deal to bring Brittney home quickly and safely.”
Griner, 31, was arrested in February at Sheremetyevo International Airport outdoors Moscow when customs officers allegedly found vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her baggage. At the time, she was returning to the nation to be part of UMMC Ekaterinburg, the Russian staff for which she performs throughout the WNBA offseason. In early May, the State Department declared Griner’s case a “wrongful detainment,” an official classification that elevated it to the workplace of the U.S. particular presidential envoy for hostage affairs.
Her trial started Friday and is anticipated to proceed Thursday; Griner has but to enter a plea. She is anticipated to be discovered responsible — an estimated 99 % of Russian prison trials finish in responsible verdicts — and will face up to 10 years in jail.