White House says Biden read Brittney Griner’s letter from Russia, won’t say if he’ll meet her family

As WNBA star Brittney Griner appeals to Joe Biden for enable in having produced from Russian custody, her scenario is a “top rated priority” for the president, in accordance to the White Property.

Push secretary Karine Jean-Pierre explained to reporters in the course of a briefing on Tuesday that Biden read Griner’s handwritten letter, which was despatched to the White Dwelling on Monday, and her notice was “pretty personalized” to him.

“I’m not likely to share any particular conversation that I had with the president,” Jean-Pierre informed ABC News when asked about Biden’s response.

“I just required to verify that he did read the letter. And I will say once again, this is incredibly private to him. Especially when an individual writes a letter in these types of a individual way … we have built this a precedence,” she included.

Jean-Pierre wouldn’t say regardless of whether Biden was heading to reply to Griner’s letter.

Griner individually attained out to Biden, urging him to help get her out of Russia — where she has been held for some 5 months for allegedly possessing cannabis oil — in accordance to her reps.

In the handwritten letter from Griner, parts of which have been built community, she expressed fears she will be held in Russia “eternally.”

“As I sit listed here in a Russian jail, alone with my thoughts and with no the safety of my spouse, family, mates, Olympic jersey, or any accomplishments, I am terrified I may be in this article without end,” Griner wrote to the president.

The athlete was traveling to Russia to enjoy basketball in the off-year when she was detained at Sheremetyevo International Airport on Feb. 17 soon after remaining accused of obtaining vape cartridges containing hashish oil, which is illegal in the state.

Griner’s detention was prolonged frequently, most lately as a result of Dec. 20, which is the predicted length of her demo. If convicted, Griner, 31, faces up to 10 decades in jail.

“It hurts imagining about how I ordinarily rejoice [the Fourth of July] due to the fact freedom usually means something totally various to me this calendar year,” Griner wrote in her letter to Biden.

Griner’s spouse, Cherelle Griner, beforehand told “Great Morning The usa” co-anchor Robin Roberts in May that she would like to talk with the president.

“I just preserve hearing that, you know, he has the energy. She’s a political pawn,” Cherelle Griner explained. “So if they’re holding her simply because they want you to do a thing, then I want you to do it.”

At Tuesday’s briefing, Jean-Pierre wouldn’t say whether or not the White Household was looking at a assembly with Brittney Griner’s relatives, but she stated that each Secretary of Point out Anthony Blinken and White Residence countrywide protection adviser Jake Sullivan have spoken to Cherelle Griner and the administration will continue to keep “open conversation and have really genuine conversations with them.”

“I just will not have everything to share on what interaction the president’s going to have with Mrs. Griner and her family,” Jean-Pierre explained to ABC News when requested about a possible conference. “All I can validate is that he’s study the letter, and he is building this a priority.”

Last Friday marked the initial day of Griner’s demo in Russia.

The Phoenix Mercury star appeared in particular person at a courtroom in Khimki, a suburb of Moscow, ABC Information claimed.

The U.S. govt labeled Griner’s situation on May perhaps 3 as “wrongfully detained,” meaning the U.S. will additional aggressively do the job to negotiate her launch even as the lawful case towards her performs out, the State Office has reported.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine commenced 1 week immediately after Griner was detained. Some officers are worried that Us citizens jaile
d in Russia could be utilized as leverage in the ongoing conflict.

Griner’s family and close friends gathered at a vigil outdoors the Russian consulate in New York Metropolis in advance of her demo final 7 days, calling on the U.S. to carry her home. Her up coming court docket look is on Thursday.

Leaders and gamers in both the WNBA and the NBA have also referred to as for Griner’s launch and raised recognition about her scenario, as have advocates.

The WNBA, which kicked off its 2022 period on May perhaps 6, is honoring Griner with a flooring decal bearing her initials and jersey selection (42) on the sidelines of all 12 WNBA teams.

The 6-foot-9 heart won an NCAA title at Baylor in 2012 a WNBA title with Phoenix, her present-day workforce, in 2014 and gold medals with the U.S. women’s crew at the 2016 and 2020 Olympics.

Civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton said he wants Biden and Blinken to set up a excursion for religion leaders to see Griner in prison as section of a prayer visit.

“Right after talking with her wife very last 7 days, I am deeply concerned for Brittney Griner’s actual physical, psychological, and religious wellbeing,” Sharpton explained in a assertion on Tuesday.

“She justifies to see the United States is undertaking something for her, so she can locate the strength as this exhibit demo goes on,” he explained.

The public marketing campaign to absolutely free Griner escalated adhering to the launch of U.S. Marine veteran Trevor Reed in April, who was freed from a Russian jail as aspect of a prisoner trade. Previous Maritime Paul Whelan has also been detained in Russia considering that 2019.

Jean-Pierre on Tuesday mentioned that the Biden administration was operating on both equally Griner and Whelan’s instances just as challenging as it completed to safe Reed’s liberty.

“We are heading to make this happen,” she explained.

An global prisoner swap potentially involving Griner, Whelan and convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout has been reviewed, in accordance to Russian media stories, but it truly is unclear if there has been any considerable motion on the difficulty. Russian officers have also indicated that they want Griner to stand trial.

Asked about a probable swap, Jean-Pierre explained she “simply cannot discuss to any conversations” relating to the method of securing the release of any American detained overseas.

Point out Department spokesperson Ned Value stated that secrecy is crucial to make certain that attempts to protected the release of Griner and some others detained abroad are not jeopardized.

“Although we update people — and certainly in wide strokes — on our attempts, it’s not a little something that we are in a placement to discuss to publicly in any element,” Rate advised reporters on Tuesday.

“We do not want to do anything at all, we do not want to say just about anything, that would likely jeopardize the likelihood of seeing an American unveiled or that would delay by a single day, a single hour or a solitary minute the risk-free return of an American to her his relatives and liked types back here,” Value added.

ABC News’ Shannon Crawford, Ben Gittleson, Molly Nagle and Tanya Stukalova contributed to this report.