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A handwritten letter from Brittney Griner was delivered to the White Home on Monday morning, in line with the Griner household, who offered excerpts to reporters. In her letter, the imprisoned WNBA star pleaded with the president to not overlook her, and mentioned her already deep appreciation for Independence Day has taken on new that means this yr.
“I am terrified I may be right here perpetually,” wrote Griner, who has been detained in Russia since mid-February. “On the 4th of July, our household usually honors the service of those that fought for our freedom, together with my father who’s a Vietnam Conflict Veteran. It hurts fascinated by how I often have a good time at the present time as a result of freedom means one thing fully totally different to me this yr.”
Griner, whose trial started final week, was arrested at a Moscow airport in February after Russia claimed she had hashish oil in her baggage. A Russian choose ordered Griner, the Phoenix Mercury heart who performed in Russia in the course of the WNBA low season, to stay in custody for the trial’s period.
The U.S. has mentioned Griner is being wrongfully detained.
The White Home on Tuesday mentioned bringing Griner house is a “precedence,” and mentioned it’s “intently coordinating” with a particular presidential envoy for hostage affairs.
“You noticed the work that his administration did to carry house Trevor Reed, that’s the identical work, the identical focus that we did and put behind bringing Trevor Reed house, we’ll do the identical with Brittney Griner and others,” White Home press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre mentioned.
Griner famous within the letter that she voted for Mr. Biden in 2020, the primary time she voted. “I consider in you. I nonetheless have a lot good to do with my freedom that you may assist restore,” she wrote.
Whereas some supporters again a prisoner swap, Griner’s detention and trial come at a low level in U.S.-Russia relations amid the warfare in Ukraine.
“We consider the Russian Federation is wrongfully detaining Brittney Griner. President Biden has been clear about the necessity to see all U.S. nationals who’re held hostage or wrongfully detained overseas launched, together with Brittney Griner. The U.S. authorities continues to work aggressively – utilizing each accessible means — to carry her house,” Nationwide Safety Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson mentioned in an announcement on Monday. “The President’s crew is in common contact with Brittney’s household and we are going to proceed to work to help her household.”
Griner’s spouse, Cherelle, and household had no additional touch upon the letter.
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