Brittney Griner’s wife urges Biden to 'make a deal' with Russia for her release
On The ReidOut Wednesday, Cherelle Griner, wife of WNBA star Brittney Griner, spoke about her wife’s months-long detainment in Russia. Griner was arrested in February for alleged possession of hash oil. The U.S. views Griner as having been wrongfully detained, but Russia claims she’s a criminal who will have to go through the legal system.
“An American that’s deemed wrongfully detained, to my understanding, from what the State Department is saying, America will negotiate their release. There’s not a maybe, it’s a will. They will negotiate for their release. And so right now my wife has been wrongfully detained,” Cherelle said. “So despite whatever the Russian authorities are saying, despite whatever press conference they do to say anything about BG and the legal matter over there, America’s already determined that she gets no justice in that system and that they will negotiate her release.”
As Russia has repeatedly extended Griner’s detainment, Cherelle urged President Biden to do more to secure her release.
“My push is for the American administration right now, the Biden administration, to do exactly that,” Cherelle said. “To make a deal for BG because she is wrongfully detained.”
Video Transcript
CHERELLE GRINER: An American that's been wrongfully detained to my understanding for what the State Department is saying, America will negotiate their release. It's not a maybe, it's a will. They will negotiate for their release.
KYLIE MAR: Cherelle Griner, wife of WNBA star Brittney Griner, appeared on the readout Wednesday, where she spoke about her wife's months long detainment in Russia for alleged possession of hash oil. While the US sees Griner as having been wrongfully detained, Russia claims that she's not a hostage, but a criminal, who will have to go through the legal system. That distinction makes negotiations for her release more difficult.
CHERELLE GRINER: Despite whatever the Russian authorities are saying, despite whatever press conference they do to say anything about BG and the legal matter over there, America has already determined that she gets no justice in that system, and that they will negotiate her release.
KYLIE MAR: But as Russia has repeatedly extended Griner's detainment, Cherrelle urged President Biden to make a deal for her release.
CHERELLE GRINER: My push is for the American administration right now, the Biden administration, to do exactly that, to make a deal for BG because she is wrongfully detained.
