Brittney Griner made an earnest appeal to President Joe Biden in a letter passed on to the White House through her representatives, as reported by the Associated Press.
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The Plea For Help
The letter written by Griner stated that she feared she might never return home and asked President Biden to not “forget about me and the other American Detainees.”
Griner’s agent, Lindsay Kagawa Colas, confirmed the letter was delivered on Monday, with most of the letter’s contents to President Biden remaining private. However, though Griner’s representative’s several lines from the hand-written note.
″…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.
The athlete also added:
“On the 4th of July, our family normally honors the service of those who fought for our freedom, including my father who is a Vietnam War Veteran. It hurts thinking about how I usually celebrate this day because freedom means something completely different to me this year.”
Griner’s wife, Cherelle Griner, stated that she had not communicated directly with Biden since the letter was delivered to the White House.
“I still have not heard from him and honestly, it’s very disheartening,” Cherelle Griner said on CBS Mornings.
The White House National Security Council confirmed the White House had received Griner’s letter.
On Monday, NSC spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said, “We believe the Russian Federation is wrongfully detaining Brittney Griner. President Biden has been clear about the need to see all U.S. nationals who are held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad released, including Brittney Griner. The U.S. government continues to work aggressively – using every available means – to bring her home.”
Cherelle Griner has said that for Brittney to reach out directly to Biden clearly shows how afraid her wife is of what’s next.
“BG is probably the strongest person that I know. So she doesn’t say words like that lightly,” Cherelle said. “That means she truly is terrified that she may never see us again. And you know I share those same sentiments. … I’m sure she was like, ‘I’m gonna write him now because … my family has tried and to no avail. So I’m going do it myself.’”
In the letter, Griner pleaded with the president to use his executive powers to ensure her safe return.
“Please do all 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 good to do with my freedom that you can help restore,” Griner said in the letter. She also stated:
“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 whatever you can do at this moment to get me home.”
Brittney Griner’s Detention In Russia Extended
On Monday, June 27, the Russian court scheduled Brittney Griner’s trial to start Friday, July 1. This follows after they ruled her detention to be extended six months pending its outcome.
Officially, this has been the fourth time Griner’s pre-trial detention was moved after already being extended before her court date was set.
Griner will now be detained throughout the trial.
Griner, detained in Russia on allegations of attempted drug smuggling, attended the preliminary hearing on Monday.
