WNBA star Brittney Griner pled guilty to drugs charges in a Russian court on Thursday, saying that she accidentally packed vape cartridges containing hashish oil in her luggage and that she did not intentionally break the law.
Given that Griner was likely to be found guilty regardless, the guilty plea is considered a way for the American basketball star to begin the process of being returned to the United States, likely as part of a prisoner swap or other kind of deal between the two countries.
While Griner’s friends, family, and supporters have been pleading with President Joe Biden and the U.S. government to get Griner home, the U.S. State Department has been working behind the scenes for months to make it happen.
Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken re-emphasized the government’s commitment to bringing Griner home.
.@USEmbRu officials again attended Brittney Griner’s trial today and delivered to her a letter from President Biden. We will not relent until Brittney, Paul Whelan, and all other wrongfully detained Americans are reunited with their loved ones.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) July 7, 2022
“[U.S. Russian Embassy] officials again attended Brittney Griner’s trial today and delivered to her a letter from President Biden,” said Blinken on Twitter. “We will not relent until Brittney, Paul Whelan, and all other wrongfully detained Americans are reunited with their loved ones.”
While there have been a lot of disappointing stories about how the U.S. government is moving to get Griner released, Biden and other officials continue to make it clear they consider it a top priority.
