Brittney Griner Shares Message To Wife As WNBA Star’s Trial In Russia Resumes: ‘Good Luck On The Bar Exam’
This Tuesday, WNBA star Brittney Griner returned to court in Russia for her trial on drug charges. While there, she told ABC News she has a message for her wife, Cherelle, who recently graduated from law school.
“Good luck on the bar exam,” Griner said. Speaking more with the news outlet during a break in Tuesday’s proceedings at a courthouse in the Moscow suburb of Khimki, she was asked whether she has any complaints. The athlete replied: “No, no complaints. Just waiting patiently.”
RELATED: Brittney Griner Has Pleaded Guilty To Drug Charges In A Russian Court
It’s clear that Griner deeply misses her wife as she arrived in court that morning holding up two photographs. She was asked during the break who was in the photos, she told ABC News: “My wife. My two best friends, my teammates.”
Cherelle Griner has previously told ABC News that she has communicated with Brittney Griner “sporadically” through letters but hasn’t spoken to her via telephone since she was arrested. However, the U.S. government claimed they had set up for the couple to connect on the phone last month, during their fourth anniversary, but was not successful.
Griner also made an attempt to call on president Joe Biden by sending him a letter to the White House, pleading for Biden to not forget about her and other Americans detained in Russia. She said,
“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,” the two-time Olympic gold medalist wrote. “I realize you are dealing with so much, but please don’t forget about me and the other American Detainees. Please do all you can to bring us home. I voted for the first time in 2020 and I voted for you. I believe in you.”
What Happened To Brittney Griner?
As we previously reported, Griner was detained back in February at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport after vape canisters with cannabis oil allegedly were found in her luggage. Earlier this month, Brittney Griner pleaded guilty to drug charges in a Russian court. Reports quoted Griner saying that she had acted unintentionally because she was packing in haste. “I’d like to plead guilty, your honor,” Griner said per Reuters, speaking to the court. “But there was no intent. I didn’t want to break the law. I’d like to give my testimony later. I need time to prepare,” she reportedly added.
The detained athlete could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted of large-scale transportation of drugs.