In a handwritten letter from Brittney Griner delivered to the White House on Monday, the WNBA player wrote about how terrified she is to be imprisoned in Russia “forever.”
Griner’s wife, Cherelle, told “CBS Mornings” that when she read the letter, she could feel the fear Griner felt.
“She’s probably the strongest person I know, so she doesn’t say words like that lightly. That means she’s really terrified that she might never see us again. You know, I share those same feelings,” Cherelle said.
Cherelle, who has only recently spoken to his wife through letters, said she believes Griner decided to write directly to President Joe Biden because the family has not been lucky enough to contact him.
“She kills me every time, you know, when I have to write to her and she asks me, ‘Have you met them yet?’ And I have to say no … I’m sure she says, “I’m going to write to her and ask her now why my family has tried unsuccessfully, so I’ll do it myself,” Cherelle said.
Even after the letter was delivered yesterday, Cherelle said she had not heard from Biden directly and said it was “very discouraging”.
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 low season, to remain in custody. If convicted of drug trafficking, Griner could face up to 10 years in a Russian prison. His trial will resume on July 7.
Cherelle said that when she first learned that Griner had been accused by the Russian government of “large-scale drug transportation,” she couldn’t believe it.
“I was surprised because I’m like on a large scale? I live with BG every day and so there’s no way possible. So I knew it wasn’t true at the time I heard the accusation because I know my wife. I’m like, no, “he said,” It’s very unfortunate, you know, that he’s in that position because BG doesn’t do anything on a large scale in drug trafficking. It was very, very difficult to hear that charge. ”
Griner’s trial began last week after several delays. The photos of Griner entering the room are some of the only images Cherelle has seen of Griner. One of those photos made her worry and made her ask Griner if she was okay and if she was “crazy right now.”
“I wrote to him sincerely and said,‘ Hey, darling, you know, I saw a picture of you, and I know there’s something like propaganda, but I have to ask, I’m inclined to ask … are you okay? ? Are you crazy at this point? Understand that if you are, I still love you and when you come back, we will love you wholeheartedly, show yourself grace. If you’re not crazy, please help my conscience and tell me, you know, a little more context about the image, ”Cherelle recalled asking.
Cherelle said Brittney responded, “I was very weak at the time. But I promise I’m not crazy, not yet,” she said. “But I was surprised because I turned the corner and it was as if hundreds of media outlets were sitting there with cameras and things waiting.”
The U.S. State Department, which has been working with Cherelle, said it determined Brittney is being unjustly detained.
Cherelle said she works hard to make sure his wife gets out of jail and back in the United States.
“At first they told me, you know, we’ll try to book, we’ll try to manage it behind the scenes and we won’t raise its value and you know, shut up. You know, I did and with respect, we have more 140 days right now. That doesn’t work, “Cherelle said. “So I will not be silent anymore. I will find this balance between, you know, the damage and the help to push our government to do everything possible because they are silent, they are not moving, they are not doing anything. he is fighting and we have to help him. ”