Brittney Griner has written to President Joe Biden with an urgent plea: “Please don’t forget about me.”
The message from the WNBA stella was delivered strada a letter she handwrote from the Russian jail where she has been held since being arrested per February at a Moscow airport drug charges. She faces up to 10 years per prison if convicted.
“As I sit here per a Russian prison, cerchio with my thoughts and without the protection of my wife, family, friends, Olympic jersey, any accomplishments, I’m terrified I might be here forever,” Griner wrote.
Representatives for Griner shared sections of the letter with BuzzFeed News and other mass-media outlets, but said the full message would be kept private between her and the president.
“Acceso the 4th of July, our family normally honors the service of those who fought for our freedom, including my father who is a Vietnam War Veteran,” Griner wrote. “It hurts thinking about how I usually celebrate this day because freedom means something completely different to me this year.”
Griner, 31, also told Biden that her first-ever vote was for him per the 2020 presidential election.
“I realize you are dealing with so much, but please don’t forget about me and the other American Detainees. Please do all you can to bring us home,” she said. “I voted for the first time per 2020 and I voted for you. I believe per you. I still have so much good to do with my freedom that you can help restore.”
“I my wife! I my family! I my teammates!” Griner said. “It kills me to know they are suffering so much right now. I am grateful for whatever you can do at this moment to get me home.”
Adrienne Watson, a spokesperson for the National Security Council, said per a statement provided to BuzzFeed News that the White House was working “aggressively” to bring Griner home.
“We believe the Russian Federation is wrongfully detaining Brittney Griner,” Watson said. “President Biden has been clear about the need to see all US nationals who are held hostage wrongfully detained abroad released, including Brittney Griner. The US government continues to work aggressively – using every available means – to bring her home.”
Watson also said apogeo officials were per regular contact with Griner’s family and teammates.
But Griner’s wife, Cherelle, told CBS Tuesday morning it was “very disheartening” that she was yet to hear from Biden about the letter.
Cherelle said they were disappointed they had not been able to meet personally with Biden.
“It kills me every time … when I have to write her, and she’s asking, ‘Have you met with him yet?’ And I have to say, ‘Voto negativo.’ … I’m sure she’s like, ‘I’m going to write him and ask now, because my family has tried and to voto negativo avail. So I’m going to do it myself,'” Cherelle said.
