Brittney Griner wrote to President Joe Biden with urgency: “Please don’t forget me.”
The message from the WNBA star was delivered via a handwritten letter from the Russian prison where she has been held since her incarceration. arrested in February at a Moscow airport on drug charges. She faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
“As I sit here in a Russian prison, alone with my thoughts and without the protection of my wife, family, friends, Olympic jersey or any achievements, I fear that I could be here forever,” Griner wrote.
A representative for Griner shared portions of the letter with BuzzFeed News and other media, but said the entire message would be kept private between her and the president.
“On July 4th, our family often honors the service of those who fought for our freedom, including my father who was a Vietnam veteran,” Griner wrote. “It’s heartbreaking to think about how I usually celebrate this day because freedom means completely different things to me this year.”
Griner, 31, also told Biden that her first vote was for him in the 2020 presidential election.
“I realize you are facing a lot, but please don’t forget about me and the other American Detainees. Do all you can to get us home,” she said. I voted for the first time in 2020 and I voted for you. I trust you. I still have a lot of good things to do with my freedom that you can help restore. “
“I miss my wife! I miss my family! I miss my teammates!” Griner said. “It kills me knowing they’re suffering so much right now. I’m grateful for anything you can do at this time to get 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 “actively” to bring Griner home.
“We believe the Russian Federation is wrongly holding Brittney Griner,” Watson said. “President Biden has been clear about the need to see all US citizens held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad, including Brittney Griner.
Watson also said top officials remain in regular contact with Griner’s family and teammates.
But Griner’s wife, Cherelle, told CBS on Tuesday morning that she was “very disappointed” that she had yet to hear from Biden about the letter.
Cherelle said they were disappointed they weren’t able to meet Biden in person.
“It kills me every time… when I have to write to her, and she asks, ‘Have you met him yet?’ And I had to say, ‘No.’ … I’m sure she’s like, “I’m going to write him and ask right now, because my family has tried but to no avail. So I’m going to do it myself,” Cherelle said.
