President Joe Biden reached out to Cherelle Griner to discuss the detainment of her wife, Brittney Griner, who has been wrongfully detained in Russia for almost five months. Biden called Cherelle to assure her that he’s doing everything he can to “secure Brittney’s release as soon as possible,” the White House said in a statement.
The president shared his condolences with Cherelle and the rest of Brittney’s family and expressed his support for them.
Vice President Kamala Harris was also present on the call, USA Today reports.
During the conversation, Biden read a draft letter he intends to send to Brittney in response to her emotional letter that arrived at the White House earlier this week. In her letter, Brittney asked the president not to “forget” her and wrote that she’s “terrified” she may be in Russia forever.
According to a release shared with Blavity, the call comes after National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s conversation with Cherelle in recent weeks.
Biden asked his national security team to keep in constant communication with the Griner family.
Brittney isn’t the only wrongful detainee on the president’s radar. He told Cherelle that he’s working on the release of Paul Whelan and other Americans who have been wrongfully detained abroad. The president has since instructed his national security team to be in touch with their families as well.
According to the BBC, Brittney has been held in Russia since Feb. 17, when she was arrested in a Moscow-area airport after hash oil was allegedly found in her luggage. She’s currently on trial, facing up to 10 years in prison.
Biden’s intervention is necessary in this case, as less than 1% of defendants in criminal cases in Russia are acquitted, the BBC reports.
