Brittney Griner Pens Handwritten Letter to President Joe Biden From Russian Prison

Brittney Griner has been detained in Russia for months after police said they found vape canisters containing cannabis oil in her luggage, and it is unclear when she will be able to return to the United States.The Phoenix Mercury player is currently in the middle of a trial in Moscow and faces a sentence of up to 10 years in prison if found guilty. Brittney has an uphill battle to have her criminal case acquitted in a trial that experts say is unlikely to be fair and that Russian authorities are using her as a diplomatic bargaining chip amid the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.The Olympic gold medalist has played in Russia for the last seven winters, earning more than $1 million per season -- more than quadruple her WNBA salary, according to the Associated Press.

US president Joe Biden has tested positive for Covid-19, according to White House officials.

Megan Rapinoe took a brief moment at tonight’s ESPYs during her acceptance speech for Best Play honors to acknowledge the plight of the WNBA’s Brittney Griner, currently being held in Russia on drug possession charges.

Stephen Curry is calling for the release of Brittney Griner.

2022 ESPY Awards, Steph Curry used his platform to deliver an impassioned message about Brittney Griner, the imprisoned WNBA star who has spent the past five months behind bars in Russia.Joined by Griner's teammate Skylar Diggins-Smith and fellow WNBA star Nneka Ogwumike, Curry explained said that, amid the night's celebration, they needed to «acknowledge one [athlete] who isn't here» — Griner.«Because Brittney isn't just on the Phoenix Mercury, she isn't just a member of her team in Russia, she isn't just an Olympian, she's one of us — the team of athletes in the room tonight and all over the world, a team that has nothing to do with politics or global conflict,» Curry shared.Ogwumike detailed all of Griner's innumerable accomplishments, sharing, «BG is a WNBA champion, she's an eight-time WNBA all-star, a national champion in college, an Olympic Gold Medalist, an athlete who has fans all over the world, and a human being whose predicament commands our attention.»«It's been 153 nights now that BG has been wrongfully detained thousands of miles away from home, away from her family, away from her friends, away from her team,» an emotional Diggins-Smith shared. «All throughout that time, we've kept her in our thoughts and in our hearts, even though we know that's not nearly enough to bring her home.»«We cannot stop fighting for her, we cannot believing for her, and we will not stop hoping for the day we can welcome her home safely,» Curry concluded, before all three declared in unison, «We are BG.»Later in the evening, Megan Rapinoe took home the ESPY Award for Best Play, and used her acceptance speech to also show her love for Griner, and emphasize the importance of keeping the fight going.«BG deserves to be free.

has issued a temporary block against President Joe Biden, stopping the administration from from enforcing LGBTQ civil rights protections in employment and education the President had put into place upon taking office. That order comes in response to a lawsuit filed by 20 right wing state attorneys general.Judge Charles E.

entered a guilty plea before the court, which analysts believe may have been her best chance at securing an eventual pardon, or at least leniency, given the Russian court system's near-perfect conviction rate.Maria Blagovolina, one of the lawyers representing Griner, said her legal team had presented evidence Friday including «characterization materials, medical records and tax returns.» Among the medical documentation was a doctor's prescription for the substance that Griner admitted bringing into Russia mistakenly as she packed her bags in a rush.  Friday was the fourth hearing in the Phoenix Mercury player's trial. She's facing up to 10 years in prison on drug possession and smuggling charges.

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President Joe Biden awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 17 recipients at the White House on Wednesday, including gymnast Simone Biles, former congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and soccer champion Megan Rapinoe, as well as posthumous honors to Steve Jobs.

Brittney Griner pleaded guilty in Russia on Thursday to drug possession and smuggling charges, telling a Moscow court she brought marijuana into the country by accident.Griner was arrested at a Moscow airport in February after Russian officials claimed she had cannabis oil in her luggage. A Russian judge ordered Griner, the Phoenix Mercury center who played in Russia during the WNBA off-season, to remain in custody.«I would like to plead guilty on the charges against me, but I had no intention on breaking any Russian law,» she said in court.

Reuters reports. “I’d like to give my testimony later. I need time to prepare.” Griner has been in Russian custody since February and her next court hearing is set for July 14, per the outlet.

Paul Whelan have said they are “astonished” that US President Joe Biden has not spoken to them personally while he remains detained in Russia. Elizabeth Whelan, the 49-year-old’s sister, said the Biden administration had not spoken with them since May in an interview with CNN on Wednesday. Hours earlier, Mr Biden said he and vice president Kamala Harris had spoken with the wife of the WNBA star Britney Griner amid her trial in Moscow and calls from her supporters for her release.

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video of a traveler who looked like Griner going through airport security, followed by footage of someone examining a package that appeared to be from a traveler’s bag. Due to Russian laws prohibiting illicit substances, Griner was subsequently charged with “large-scale transportation of drugs.”The U.S. has alleged that Griner is being wrongfully detained — a charge which Russian officials have denied. Some security experts have speculated that the WNBA player was scapegoated in retaliation for the United States’ vocal opposition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine earlier this year. Last week, Griner’s trial began, but for all intents, it has been deemed by many human rights observers, and the U.S.

Brittney Griner, sooner rather than later.Brittney, whose trial began last week, was arrested at a Moscow airport in February after Russia claimed she had cannabis oil in her luggage. A Russian judge ordered Brittney, the Phoenix Mercury center who played in Russia during the WNBA off-season, to remain in custody for the trial's duration. If convicted on drug smuggling charges, Brittney could face 10 years in a Russian prison.

Brittney Griner has written an open letter to President Joe Biden pleading for her freedom.

hosting a smorgasbord of polarizing figures on his show, pot-stirring podcaster Joe Rogan claimed there’s one person that’ll never appear on his podcast: Former US president Donald Trump.The 54-year-old comedian and UFC commentator was candid during a Monday episode of “The Joe Rogan Experience” with computer scientist Lex Fridman.“I am not a Trump supporter, in any way, shape or form,” the former “Fear Factor” host told Fridman, 35. “I have had the opportunity to have him on my show, more than once, and I have said no every time.”He added, “I don’t want to help him, I’m not interested in helping him.”The Trump subject had come up while Rogan was discussing the polarizing state of politics in the US in 2022.

CNN from the communications company representing her family.“[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 accomplishments, I’m terrified I might be here forever,” Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, wrote. NEW: A letter from Brittney Griner was sent to the White House today, making a direct appeal to President Biden for her freedom. Representatives shared the following excerpts: pic.twitter.com/pvh4IpOfou“On the 4th of July, our family normally honors the service of those who fought for our freedom, including my father who is a Vietnam War Veteran.