President Biden tells wife of WNBA star Brittney Griner he's working to get her released

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden spoke Wednesday with the wife of detained WNBA player Brittney Griner, who is on trial in Russia, to reassure her that he is working to win Griner's freedom as soon as possible, the White House said.

Biden's conversation with Cherelle Griner followed Brittney Griner's personal appeal to the president in a handwritten letter from the basketball player the White House received on Monday. In the letter, Griner said she feared she would spend forever in detention in Russia and asked Biden not to «forget about me and the other American Detainees.»

Griner has been detained in Russia for four months and is currently on trial, accused of possessing vape cartridges containing hashish oil — which is derived from cannabis.

The call was placed as Griner's family has become more aggressive in pressuring the Biden administration by speaking out about her case, including through Brittney Griner's letter to the president and several television interviews by Cherelle Griner, who said she did not think the government was doing enough to bring her wife home.

«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 in a statement. „He also read her a draft of the letter the President is sending to Brittney Griner today.''

Biden offered his support to the family and committed to making sure they receive “all possible assistance'' while the administration pursues steps to win Brittney Griner's release, the White House said.

Griner is in the midst of a trial in Russia that began last week after