The NNPA NEWSWIRE On December 8th, early in the morning, President Biden issued a statement regarding Brittney Griner’s release and released images of him meeting with Griner’s wife, Cherelle Griner, in the Oval Office and speaking with Griner on the phone atop the Resolute Desk. The American government will fly Cherelle Griner to San Antonio, Texas, where Brittney Griner will return to the country.
By Lauren Victoria Burke
Source to NNPA Newswire Lauren Victoria Burke
Brittney Griner, a major star in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), has been released from a Russian prison after being imprisoned for months. Since February, she has been detained in Russia. Griner was arrested in Russia on drug-related charges. Griner will be returned to the United States on December 8 as part of a one-for-one prisoner exchange announced by the Biden Administration, which will free arms dealer Viktor Bout.
Griner was detained by Russian customs agents in February 2022 for allegedly possessing hashish oil, which Russian officials claim was discovered in her luggage. Griner was later arrested for drug trafficking. President Biden described Griner’s subsequent detention in Russia as a “show trial” and stated that Griner was “wrongfully detained.”
On December 8th, early in the morning, President Biden issued a statement regarding Brittney Griner’s release and released images of him meeting with Griner’s wife, Cherelle Griner, in the Oval Office and speaking with Griner on the phone atop the Resolute Desk. The American government will fly Cherelle Griner to San Antonio, Texas, where Brittney Griner will return to the country. On December 8 during a West Wing news conference, President Biden stated, “She’s safe, she’s on a plane, and she’s on her way home.” She shouldn’t have been held in custody in the first instance… For Brittney and Cherelle, the previous few months have been the pits, the President continued.
Cherelle Griner said she was “overwhelmed with emotions” after meeting with President Biden at the White House. But the most important emotion I am experiencing right now is genuine gratitude towards President Biden and his entire administration. He just mentioned that this work isn’t easy, and it hasn’t been — there are so many hands involved.
I’d like to take this opportunity to specifically mention a few.”
Cherelle Griner then expressed gratitude to Vice President Harris and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, among others.
Brittney Griner was apprehended just one week before Russia invaded Ukraine. Biden also advised Americans to exercise extreme caution when travelling, particularly to Russia. Several activists in the United States used social media to keep her name in the news by launching a “free Brittney” campaign to raise awareness of her detention in Russia.
Lauren Victoria Burke is a freelance journalist who hosts the podcast BURKEFILE. She is a political analyst who frequently appears on #RolandMartinUnfiltered.
She can be reached at LBurke007@gmail.com or @LVBurke on Twitter.