President Joe Biden Has Met With Brittney Griner’s Wife To Discuss Attempts To Free Her

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President Joe Biden Has Met With Brittney Griner’s Wife To Discuss Attempts To Free Her

 

After Russian customs officials found vape cartridges that contained hashish oil in basketball star Brittney Griner’s luggage this past February, she was detained at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport.

This has led to Griner becoming a valuable asset for the Russians, who are trying to exchange her for arms trafficker Viktor Bout, who is imprisoned in the U.S., in a prisoner swap.

Griner then pleaded guilty to bringing hashish oil into Russia, letting the judge know that she had done so inadvertently while asking the court for mercy. The WNBA star however was sentenced to nine years in prison.

Insiders believe that the guilty plea was a strategy to help facilitate a prisoner swap, something the U.S. have been working on ever since – so far without success.

Griner has now been in a Russian prison for well over 200 days. This past Friday, President Joe Biden met at the White House with Cherelle Griner, Brittney’s wife, to discuss ongoing attempts to free her from Russia. Biden also talked separately with Elizabeth Whelan, the sister of former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, who is also being held in Russia in what American authorities consider to be an unlawful detention.

Per a statement from Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre:

 

“The President held the meetings to reiterate his continued commitment to working through all available avenues to bring Brittney and Paul home safely. He asked after the wellbeing of Elizabeth and Cherelle and their respective families during this painful time. The President appreciated the opportunity to learn more about Brittney and Paul from those who love them most, and acknowledged that every minute they are being held is a minute too long.

Today’s meetings come after earlier meetings and conversations that the President, his national security team, and the State Department have held with the Whelan and Griner families to keep them updated on efforts to secure the release of their loved ones as quickly as possible. We all admire the courage of the Whelan and Griner families in the face of these unimaginable circumstances, and we remain committed to reuniting them with their loved ones.”

 

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