Brittney Greener appealed to President Joe Biden in a letter delivered to the White House through his representatives, saying she feared she would never return home and asking him to “don’t forget about me and the other American detainees.”
Greener’s agent, Lindsay Kagawa Collas, said the letter was delivered on Monday. Most of the letter to President Biden remains private, although Griner’s representatives shared some lines from the manuscript.
“…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 fear I will be here forever,” Griner wrote.
“On the 4th of July, our family often honors the service of those who fought for our freedom, including my father, who is a Vietnam War veteran,” added the Phoenix Mercury Center. “It hurts me to think about how I’m going to celebrate this day, because freedom means something completely different to me this year.
The two-time Olympic gold medalist is in the midst of a trial in Russia that began last week after he was arrested on Feb. 17 on charges of possessing hemp oil when he returned to play for the Russian team. The trial will resume on Thursday.
Less than 1% of defendants in Russian criminal cases are acquitted and, unlike in American courts, convictions can be overturned.
The White House National Security Council confirmed that the White House received Griner’s letter.
“We believe the Russian Federation is unfairly detaining Brittney Griner,” NSC spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said on Monday. “President Biden has made clear the need to release all US citizens held hostage or illegally detained abroad, including Brittney Griner. The US government continues to work aggressively, using every means available, to bring him home.
In the letter, Griner asked Biden to use his authority to secure his return.
“Please do everything you can to get us home. I voted for the first time in 2020 and I voted for you. I believe in you. I still have so many good things to do with my freedom that you can help me restore it,” said Greener, “I miss my wife!” I miss my family! I miss my colleagues! It kills me to know that they are suffering so much right now. I am grateful for what you can do now to bring me home.”
Griner was able to sporadically communicate with family, friends and WNBA players through an email account created by his agent. The emails are printed and delivered to Griner in packages by his lawyer after Russian authorities review them. Once the lawyers return to their offices, they will digitize any of Griner’s responses and transfer them to the US.
He was supposed to have a phone call with his wife on his birthday but couldn’t because of an “unfortunate mistake”, Biden administration officials said.
Griner’s supporters have encouraged prisoner exchanges like April’s that brought home Navy veteran Trevor Reed for a Russian pilot convicted of a drug conspiracy. In May, the State Department declared him illegally detained and transferred the case to the President’s Special Representative for Hostage Affairs.
Griner is not the only American illegally detained in Russia. Paul Whelan, a former marine and director of security, is serving a 16-year sentence for espionage.
Source: Hollywood Reporter
Camila Luna is a writer at Gossipify, where she covers the latest movies and television series. With a passion for all things entertainment, Camila brings her unique perspective to her writing and offers readers an inside look at the industry. Camila is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in English and is also a avid movie watcher.
