Biden, Kamala Harris Call Brittney Griner's Wife

Biden and Kamala Harris call Brittney Griner’s wife Cherelle to ‘reassure’ her they are working to release the WNBA star from Russian prison ‘as soon as possible’: Says she is being detained under ‘intolerable conditions’

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris called the wife of Brittney Griner Wednesday
They did so to ‘reassure’ Cherelle Griner they are doing everything they can to get the WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist released from Russian prison
The call comes after Brittney Griner sent a letter to Biden on Monday, pleading with him not to ‘forget about me and other American Detainees’

By Nikki Schwab, Senior U.S. Political Reporter For Dailymail.com

Published: 13:46 EDT, 6 July 2022 | Updated: 13:46 EDT, 6 July 2022

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris called the wife of Brittney Griner Wednesday to ‘reassure her’ they are working to get the WNBA star released from a Russian prison.

‘The President called Cherelle to reassure her that he is working to secure Brittney’s release as soon as possible, as well as the release of Paul Whelan and other U.S. nationals who are wrongfully detained or held hostage in Russia and around the world,’ the White House said. ‘He also read her a draft of the letter the President is sending to Brittney Griner today.’

The president and vice president reached out to Cherelle Griner after receiving a letter from Brittney Monday’s Fourth of July holiday where she asked Biden not to ‘forget about me and other American Detainees’ and described the deplorable conditions she was being held in.

WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner is escorted to a courtroom for a hearing in Khimki just outside Moscow, Russia on Friday

‘The President offered his support to Cherelle and Brittney’s family, and he committed to ensuring they are provided with all possible assistance while his administration pursues every avenue to bring Brittney home,’ the White House readout said.

It also acknowledged that Brittney Griner had been ‘wrongfully detained in Russia under intolerable circumstances.’

Griner, a two-time gold medalist and WNBA player, has been detained in Russia for the past four months.

The Russians are prosecuting her for possession of vape cartridges that had cannabis in them.

Griner was traveling to Russia because she plays for a Russian basketball team.

Griner is currently on trial in Russia.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre wouldn’t say if a prisoner exchange deal was on the table, as reports say that the Russian could trade Griner for the release of Viktor Bout – the ‘Merchant of Death,’ who is in prison for selling weapons to a terrorist group.

‘I’m not going to negotiate in public on this,’ she told reporters on board Air Force One Wednesday as the president headed to Cleveland.