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Brittney Griner has written to President Joe Biden with an urgent plea: “Don’t forget about me.”
The message from the WNBA star was sent via a handwritten letter from a Russian jail where she has been held since she was arrested in February at a Moscow airport on drug charges. He faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
“As I sit in a Russian prison, with only my thoughts and without the protection of my wife, family, friends, Olympic jersey, or any achievements, I fear that I will be here forever,” Griner wrote.
A representative for Griner shared parts of the letter with BuzzFeed News and other media outlets, but said the full message would remain private between him and the president.
“On the 4th of July, our family traditionally honors the service of those who fought for our freedom, including my father who was a Vietnam War Veteran,” Griner wrote. It’s very different from me this year.”
Griner, 31, also told Biden that he voted first for him in the 2020 presidential election.
“I know a lot of you, but don’t forget about me and the other American Prisoners. Please do everything you can to bring us home,” he said. “I voted for the first time in 2020 and I voted for you. I believe in you. I still have many virtues for my freedom that you can restore.”
“I miss my wife! I miss my family! I miss my friends!” Griner said. “It kills me to know he’s suffering right now. I’d be grateful for anything you can do at this point to bring me home.”
Adrienne Watson, a spokeswoman for the National Security Council, said in a statement provided to BuzzFeed News that the White House is working “aggressively” to bring Griner home.
“We believe the Russian Federation wrongfully detained Brittney Griner,” Watson said. “President Biden has been clear about the need to see all US citizens held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad released, including Brittney Griner. The US government continues to work aggressively – using all means available – to bring them home.”
Watson also said top officials have been in contact with Griner’s family and friends.
But Griner’s wife, Cherelle, told CBS Tuesday morning it was “very painful” she had not heard from Biden about the letter.
Cherelle said she was disappointed she couldn’t meet with Biden.
“It kills me every time … when I have to write him, and he asks, ‘Have you met him yet?’ And I had to say, ‘No.’ … I’m sure he was like, ‘I’m going to write him and ask him now, because my family has tried and it doesn’t work. So I’m going to do it myself,'” Cherelle said.
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