Brittney Griner latest trial: WNBA star pleads guilty to drug smuggling in Russia as Kim Kardashian backs case

Speaking outside the courtroom, Brittney Griner’s lawyers said their plan now is to count on clemency from the Russian courts as the WNBA star pleads guilty and declares she had no intention of infringing. law by shipping hash oil, but already packed. is in a hurry.

It is hoped that this will speed up a ruling and spur negotiations over a possible prisoner swap.

MSNBC host Reverend Al Sharpton has appealed to President Joe Biden to help him arrange a visit to meet WNBA star Brittney Griner at her prison in Russia.

“My intention is to go to Russia next week. And I hope the White House will help so I can make a missionary visit to let her know of the support and let her know that the family and people care about her and pray with her. there,” said Mr. Sharpton. Morning Joe on Wednesday morning.

The venerable said he spoke to Ms Griner’s father about the visit and that meeting her was important to determine how well she is being treated.

Ms. Griner contacted US Embassy staff and regularly wrote to his wife and begged President Biden directly, but visits have been difficult due to Russia’s diplomatic and social isolation against him. with the war in Ukraine.

Mr Sharpton said he wanted to “bring a message directly from her to this president and hear from her. And you have to remember as her wife told me, she’s in a prison where most people can’t even speak English. She can’t even communicate with the prison operators. She is in a Russian prison. “

He added: “This is cruel at best. We don’t even know if she’s remotely guilty of what they’re talking about. Is she being used as a political tool for Putin? We do not know. That’s why we wanted to go. “

WNBA star Brittney Griner pleaded guilty in a Russian court to drug charges that could carry her to 10 years in prison.

The basketball player was back in court on Thursday to face her trial as a senior Russian diplomat said US criticism of Russia’s handling of the case would not help her. Griner is likely to be released.

“I want to plead guilty, your honor. But no intention. I don’t want to break the law,” Ms. Griner said in English. Her words were translated into Russian for the court, Reuters reported.

Gustaf Kilander has the newest one.

The US Embassy charged Elizabeth Rood told the media she spoke to Brittney Griner in the courtroom today.

Ms. Griner told Ms. Rood that she ate well, could read, and under the circumstances she was doing well.

“Most importantly, I was able to share with Mrs. Griner a letter from President Biden, and Mrs. Griner was able to read it. “I would like to again emphasize the commitment of the United States government at the highest level to bringing home Ms. Griner and all wrongfully detained US citizens. As well as the commitment of the US Embassy in Moscow to the care and protection of the interests of all US citizens detained or imprisoned in Russia”.

American basketball player Brittney Griner pleaded guilty in a Russian court on Thursday to drug charges that could mean her face 10 years in prison, a Reuters journalist reported from the courtroom.

Griner’s family has called on US President Joe Biden to step up efforts to secure the release of the WNBA star.

“I want to plead guilty, your honor. But no intention. I don’t want to break the law,” Griner said, speaking English which was then translated into Russian for the court.

“I want to give my testimony later. I need time to prepare,” she added.

The next trial is scheduled for July 14.

WNBA star Brittney Griner was escorted into court for the second day of her trial on charges of smuggling drugs into Russia.

Ms Griner was arrested in February at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport after some hash oil was discovered and found in her luggage.

Dressed in red and handcuffed, the two-time Olympic athlete holds a water bottle and a brochure with screenshots of her wife Cherelle, who sat down for an interview demanding the US government do more to secure her release.

Ms. Griner was then joined by three US embassy representatives and her attorneys in the courtroom. There are no TV cameras and only a few journalists are allowed in.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Tuesday said the case of WNBA star and US Olympic athlete Brittney Griner’s continued detention in Russia is a “priority” for President Joe Biden and his administration. him after the basketball player’s letter to Mr. Biden was made public. of Miss Griner’s family.

“This is a matter of priority for this President,” said Jean-Pierre, who noted that the United States has classified Griner as “detained by the Russian government in an unethical way,” said Jean-Pierre. wrong”.

Brittney Griner’s wife Cherelle said she was “disappointed” that she had yet to receive a response from the White House after the WNBA star sent a handwritten letter to President Joe Biden.

Ms Griner has directly appealed to the president to help with her efforts to win freedom from detention in Russia on hash oil-related drug charges.

Her family was unable to contact the president regarding the matter, which prompted the Phoenix Mercury center to write to Mr. Biden in person.

WNBA player Brittney Griner wrote a letter to President Joe Biden begging for help in freeing her from prison in Russia.

Ms Griner was arrested by Russian authorities in February after customs officials allegedly found a cartridge containing hash oil in her luggage.

In the excerpt shared by her representative, she writes: “As I sit here in a Russian prison, alone with my thoughts and without the protection of my wife, family, friends, car, Olympic jerseys or any achievement, I’m so scared. I’ll be here forever.”

New York Times reported on Thursday that Ms. Griner was in Correctional Colony No. 1 outside Moscow, a former orphanage rebuilt a decade ago as a prison for women awaiting trial and women serving sentences. The Russian government has not confirmed Griner’s whereabouts.

Time reports that the facility is artificially lit, with “grey painted halls and ghastly high walls,” and that Ms Griner is not the only foreigner detained at the so-called facility. IK-1 for drug possession in recent years.