Biden Has Long-Awaited Call With Brittney Griner’s Wife

Topline

President Biden spoke Wednesday with the wife of Brittney Griner, who has been detained in Russia for months on drug charges, days after the WNBA star sent a personal letter to the president pleading for help with her release.

Key Facts

Biden spoke with Cherelle Griner, who for weeks has been publicly asking to speak with the president directly to discuss her wife’s status, according to a readout from the White House.

Biden read Cherelle Griner a draft of his response to the letter her wife sent him, which he is sending Brittney on Wednesday.

The White House says Biden told Cherelle “he is working to secure Brittney’s release as soon as possible,” as well as the release of other wrongfully detained U.S. citizens like Paul Whelan, who was detained in Russia in 2018 and sentenced to 16 years in prison on espionage charges in 2020.

Cherelle Griner has not publicly commented on her call with the president.

Key Background

Brittney Griner, who plays for the Phoenix Mercury, has been detained in Russia since February after vape cartridges containing hashish oil were allegedly discovered in her luggage at an airport. The basketball star sent Biden a letter Monday, excerpts of which were shared publicly by her agent Lindsay Kagawa Colas. Brittney wrote she is “terrified I might be here forever,” and asked that Biden “don’t forget about me and the other American detainees.” Her trial in Russia over the charges began Friday, and is expected to last two months. The Olympian faces 10 years in prison if convicted. In June, the Griners were supposed to speak over the phone for the first time since Brittney was detained for their anniversary, but a local embassy did not connect the call.

Tangent

Paul Whelan’s sister Elizabeth Whelan told CNN her family is angry that Biden called Cherelle Griner but not her family. “Why are the Whelans not getting a call? Why is Paul not going to have a letter written by the President?,” she said. Whelan said it’s “ridiculous” the White House decided to “reach out to Cherelle Griner and talk about how Paul Whelan is a priority to come home as well…when they could just call the Whelan family and tell them themselves.”

Further Reading

‘Terrified I Might Be Here Forever’: Brittney Griner Sends Handwritten Plea To Biden, Agent Says (Forbes)

Brittney Griner’s Trial Begins In Moscow Court—Here’s What To Watch For (Forbes)

Kremlin Insists Brittney Griner Is Not A ‘Hostage’ After Extending Her Detention A Third Time (Forbes)