Brittney Griner

The US basketball player admits the charges in a Russian court but denies any intent to break the law.

"We don't want Ms Griner to become a pawn in the political battle that's being waged throughout the world right now." I didn't want to break the law," Brittney Griner told the court in English. In handcuffs and wearing a red T-shirt and trousers, she said she would like to give her testimony later and needed time to prepare. I'm frustrated that my wife is not going to get justice." A US National Security Council spokeswoman said on Thursday she was wrongfully detained by Russia under "intolerable circumstances". She had travelled to Russia to play club basketball during the off-season and has featured in EuroLeague team UMMC Ekaterinburg since 2014. Mr Biden told Cherelle Griner he was working to have her freed as soon as possible.

The US basketball star detained on drugs charges will not get justice in Russia, her wife says.

I'm frustrated that my wife is not going to get justice," she added. She has played with the EuroLeague team UMMC Ekaterinburg in Russia since 2014. "It does not just distract from the case but creates interference," he added.

The New York Times reported on Thursday that Ms Griner is in the Correctional Colony No. 1 outside of Moscow, a former orphanage rebuilt a decade ago to serve ...

It’s a statement about the value of a gay person. It’s a statement about the value of a Black person. Ms Griner, who came out nearly a decade ago, has won an NCAA championship, a WNBA championship, and two Olympic gold medals in her celebrated basketball career. The White House has said that it is working dilligently to bring Ms Griner and other Americans wrongfully detained abroad home. Notably, the prison has a rusty monument to Vladimir Lenin in its courtyard. One week later, Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine — and since then, Ms Griner has remained in Russian custody.

Olympic champion says she did not deliberately transport hash oil found on vapes but rushed when packing.

Her legal team hopes plea will help her avoid severe sentence.

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said: “Brittney Griner remains wrongfully detained in Russia and nothing that happened today changes that 140 days later. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. I didn’t want to break the law. On Thursday, she told the court: “I’d like to plead guilty, your honour. You can’t navigate it or even understand it like our own legal system,” WNBPA executive director Terri Jackson said. “Today BG [Ms Griner] pleaded guilty,” her legal team said.

In February 2022, Brittney Griner, the legendary WNBA basketball player, was arrested in Moscow for allegedly having illegal vape cartridges. Now Russia is ...

His freedom could not restore that, and he will be forever known as the Merchant of Death, a stain he will never be able to remove. Bout has already lost what he most valued — his ability to move freely across the globe and act with impunity as an agent of chaos in the service of his Russian handlers and his own interests. The diplomatic and Department of Justice efforts to get Bout to the U.S. to stand trial were a testament to how a whole of government approach can work when done well. In his later years, he was reined in by the Russian state under Putin, no longer able to freelance at will and without unfettered access to massive caches of weapons. Bout ran an aviation and weapons empire from the fall of the Soviet Union until his arrest in Thailand in 2008. In November 2011, the notorious Russian weapons trafficker Viktor Bout was sentenced by a New York court to 25 years in prison for his crimes.

The outpouring of support isn't surprising. A majority of Americans support legalizing marijuana and clearing past cannabis convictions.

A forthcoming bill from Senate Democrats is also expected to automatically expunge nonviolent federal marijuana crimes and provide for resentencing. The long-anticipated Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act, co-sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, is said to be nearing introduction. The project began in 2021 by examining qualified immunity and continues in 2022 by examining various ways to improve law enforcement. (In a call Wednesday, Biden told Griner's wife that he is working to get Griner released " as soon as possible." This column is part of a series by USA TODAY Opinion about police accountability and building safer communities. But excepting her status as a pro athlete, Griner – a Black gay woman – would be subject to the disproportionately higher rates of enforcement for cannabis possession that affect marginalized communities, particularly people of color, in the United States. Given the fact Biden has failed to help release tens of thousands of individuals wrongfully detained on nonviolent cannabis charges here in America, it feels naive to expect him to secure Griner's freedom. Even so, Congress needs to act, and fast. Russian authorities need to stop using Griner as a political pawn and release her from detention. After all, cannabis remains a Schedule I drug in the United States. This means that under federal drug trafficking guidelines, any U.S. citizen could face a jail sentence for flying with hash oil. The near universal support for Griner is by no means surprising. And, like Griner in Russia, non-U.S. citizens are regularly prosecuted under our harsh drug laws for crossing our border with cannabis.

Basketball star Brittney Griner has pleaded guilty to bringing drugs into Russia. The Womens National Basketball Association (WNBA) star and Olympic gold medal ...

I’m frustrated that my wife is not going to get justice." In her statement she said: “I’d like to plead guilty, your honor. I didn’t want to break the law. She also took to Instagram sharing that she was “hopeful” the President had read Griner’s letter and that they would “find comfort in knowing she has not been forgotten". I’m frustrated." The basketball player has also written to President Biden, expressing fears she was: “terrified [she] might be here forever”

President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris told Cherelle Griner they would pursue “every avenue” to bring her wife, Brittney Griner, home from Russia.

Experts said Brittney Griner’s trial was likely to end in a conviction. There’s no presumption of innocence, really.” The women have been able to communicate with each other only through letters. “There’s a bias mainly because the Russian judicial system says they really should not go to trial unless the defendant is going to be convicted,” said William Pomeranz, the acting director of the Kennan Institute and an expert on Russian law. On Tuesday, Cherelle Griner appeared on “CBS Mornings” and spoke about her disappointment that Brittney Griner’s family had not received a reply to Brittney Griner’s letter from the president. On Wednesday, President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke with Cherelle Griner, the wife of the W.N.B.A. star Brittney Griner, according to statement released by the White House. Brittney Griner has been detained in Russia on drug charges since February.

US president Joe Biden spoke Wednesday with the wife of detained WNBA player Brittney Griner, who is on trial in Russia, and assured her that that he is ...

“He also read her a draft of the letter the President is sending to Brittney Griner today.” The trial is scheduled to resume Thursday. Biden’s conversation with Griner’s wife, Cherelle Griner, followed Brittney Griner’s personal appeal to the president in a handwritten letter from the basketball player the White House received on Monday. In the letter, Griner acknowledged her fears that she would spend forever in detention in Russia and asked Biden not “forget about me and the other American Detainees”.

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke by phone Wednesday with Cherelle Griner, the wife of WNBA star Brittney Griner, who is detained ...

There has been growing frustration among the families of those of wrongful detainees abroad who feel that the Biden administration is not doing enough to secure their loved ones' releases. He did not promise a meeting with Biden, but sought to assure them that the administration is making every effort to bring their loved ones home. He also read her a draft of the letter the President is sending to Brittney Griner today," the White House said. She went on trial in a court near Moscow on Friday on drug smuggling charges. I miss my family! I miss my wife!

The president "offered his support to Cherelle and Brittney's family, and he committed to ensuring they are provided with all possible assistance."

I voted for the first time in 2020 and I voted for you. In her letter, she called on Biden to get her and others who are detained in Russia home. "He also read her a draft of the letter the President is sending to Brittney Griner today."

The White House said President Biden and Vice President Harris spoke with Cherelle Griner on Wednesday, as more of the WNBA star's supporters publicly ...

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Griner is in the middle of a trial in Russia after being arrested in February on charges of possessing cannabis oil. Her trial is set to resume on Thursday.

The trial is scheduled to resume Thursday. Her trial is set to resume on Thursday. Griner is in the middle of a trial in Russia after being arrested in February on charges of possessing cannabis oil.

Griner recently penned a letter to President Biden asking him to help her and other American detainees in Russia.

Because being quiet, they are not moving.” Driving the news: “I will not be quiet anymore,” she told CBS. “I will find that balance of harm versus help in pushing our government to do everything that’s possible. Because being quiet, they are not moving.”

As much as the Biden administration wants to bring her home, BRITTNEY GRINER will likely remain in a Russian prison for at least a few more months. That fear, ...

Shoot us an email at [email protected] or [email protected] to be featured in the next edition of the newsletter. IT’S WEDNESDAY: Thanks for tuning in to NatSec Daily. This space is reserved for the top U.S. and foreign officials, the lawmakers, the lobbyists, the experts and the people like you who care about how the natsec sausage gets made. Johnson maintains that he should still remain prime minister, defending his domestic record and his leadership of the West’s retaliation against Russia for the Ukraine invasion. The satellite buses will be produced in Florida by the company’s joint venture with OneWeb. Other companies working for Northrop on the project include Mynaric and Innoflight, which will provide optical links. Secretary of State ANTONY BLINKEN will meet with his Chinese counterpart, WANG YI, on the sidelines and will work to avoid Russian Foreign Minister SERGEY LAVROV. What’s more, “Blinken will find himself among diplomats from countries wary of the U.S. approach to Ukraine and concerned about its impact on them,” Lee wrote. In addition, businesses will be required by law to supply goods and services necessary for conducting the ‘special military operation’ to the armed forces,” Reuters continued. The government may also oblige some employees to work at night, on weekends or during holidays, in return for increased wages.” Even so, the Biden administration is working to place Griner back into the arms of her wife, family and teammates. The former Marine’s health was also failing at the time of the prisoner swap, and the Russians likely did not want to deal with his potential death on their watch. He may not have the power he once did following his arrest and 2011 conviction, but few in the U.S. and elsewhere want to give him the chance to regain it. Some people we spoke with noted the U.S. secured TREVOR REED’s release in April — two months into the war — indicating it was still possible to deal with Russia on such matters. "The Russians are making maximalist demands in exchange for Griner," a U.S. official told us, refusing to elaborate.

Joe Biden said he was committed to ensuring 'his administration pursues every avenue to bring Brittney home'.

‘I voted for the first time in 2020 and I voted for you. I believe in you. ‘The President called Cherelle to reassure her that he is working to secure Brittney’s release as soon as possible,’ stated the White House.

President Joe Biden and VP Kamala Harris tried to reassure Cherelle Griner that her wife WNBA star Brittney Griner will be released from Russian prison.

I believe in you,” the seven-time WNBA all-star said. Cherelle Griner spoke out after Brittney, 31, penned a July 4 letter to the president pleading with him to help get her out of Russia, saying, “I’m terrified I might be here forever.” Noting that Brittney Griner is being held “under intolerable circumstances,” the president also read Cherelle Griner a draft of a letter he intends to send to Brittney.

The WNBA athlete sent a letter to Biden last week imploring White House action on her Russian detainment.

Biden’s conversation with Cherelle Griner follows a concerted push from the Griner family to escalate the two-time Olympic gold medalist’s detention. “And respectfully, we’re over 140 days at this point. Biden and Harris speak to the wife of Brittney Griner

The Biden administration said it is working to get Brittney Griner out of Russian detention. She's been in Russian custody since February when authorities ...

"And those things are obviously going to make Brittney's time there a lot more difficult than if they just had taken another American hostage." Russia detained and convicted Reed in 2019 for attacking Russian authorities. Her trial began on July 1, and she faces up to 10 years in Russian imprisonment. However, Russia is likely asking for a Russian arms dealer, nicknamed "the Merchant of Death," in exchange for Griner, Tass, a Russian news source, reported in May. Griner, WNBA player for the Phoenix Mercury, was taken into Russian custody on February 17. The US State Department maintains that Griner is "wrongfully detained" and on Wednesday, Biden told Griner's wife, Cherelle, that he " is working to secure Brittney's release as soon as possible."

As US basketball player Brittney Griner stands trial in Russia accused of drug smuggling, a growing number of other foreign nationals are also imprisoned in ...

Reed was sentenced to nine years in prison for endangering the “life and health” of Russian police officers, a charge which he and US officials denied. In Griner’s case, her status as a high-profile athlete could make her a particularly valuable political pawn that the US is keen to repatriate. According to Noble, it is unclear whether Russian authorities intend to increase detentions of foreign nationals for political ends, but many may now fear a hostile welcome if they should travel there. “A person could be sitting on remand for a very long time, while the investigator could be in no hurry to actually investigate,” says Natalia Prilutskaya, Amnesty International’s researcher for Russia. At the end of this ordeal, there is little hope of a fair trial. Even though they are legally supposed to spend a maximum of two months on remand under Russian law, extensions are often granted.

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A White House spokesperson said they’d check and asked for time to talk to some of the people involved. Send us your best on the presidents with a citation and we may feature it. The attorney has reached out to a number of people in Griner’s camp, including her agent, but he said he has not received responses. FIRST IN WEST WING PLAYBOOK: Not everyone was pleased with the White House’s statement today about its call with Griner’s wife. At 3:11 p.m., The Wall Street Journal published a story including a prepared statement from Chief RON KLAIN. This isn’t the first time the White House has done something like this to reporters. Before the White House, she was briefings director for the Biden campaign. Bout’s lawyer, STEVE ZISSOU, said he has been encouraged by increasing calls he’s getting from reporters as Griner’s case has gotten more attention, and has been pleased by some of the high-profile advocates calling for a prisoner swap. REPORTERS BEWARE: Alex got wind of Bedingfield’s departure early and called the White House at 2:53 p.m. to ask for comment about it. Still, the Richardson team has been credited with playing a role in the release of Reed earlier this year. The Biden administration has looked at Richardson with some annoyance, viewing the freelance diplomatic efforts as a bit of a publicity stunt and an occasional complication with official efforts. Whereas those efforts were unsuccessful, a former U.S. official familiar with the issue said the Russians now have more leverage. But they did not start working with the family until April, when Griner’s team began a more public effort to get her released.