Brittney Griner’s wife calls on Biden to help in WNBA star's release

Brittney Griner’s wife, Cherelle, wants President Joe Biden to secure her partner’s release, doing whatever is necessary to get the WNBA star home from Russia where she has been detained for more than three months.

"I just keep hearing that, you know, he has the power. She’s a political pawn, " said Cherelle, who became emotional detailing what little she knows about Griner’s detainment during an interview that aired Wednesday on Good Morning America. "So if they’re holding her because they want you to do something, then I want you to do it."

The Phoenix Mercury center has been detained since Feb. 17 after vape cartridges containing oil derived from cannabis were allegedly found in her luggage at an airport near Moscow.

The 31-year-old Griner — a two-time Olympic gold medalist for the U.S. — faces drug smuggling charges that carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Earlier this month, the Biden administration said Griner is being wrongfully detained.

Cherelle has talked with Secretary of State Antony Blinken about Griner’s case, but not the president.

"I was grateful for the call, you say she’s top priority, but I wanna see it. and I feel like to see it would be me seeing BG on U.S. soil," Cherelle said in her first public interview. "At this point I don’t even know who I’m getting back when she comes back."

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Russian officials have described Griner’s case as a criminal offense without making any political associations. But Moscow’s war in Ukraine has brought U.S.-Russia relations to the lowest level since the Cold War.

Despite the strain, Russia and the United States carried out an unexpected prisoner exchange last month — trading former Marine Trevor Reed for Konstantin Yaroshenko, a Russian pilot serving a 20-year federal prison sentence for conspiring to smuggle cocaine into the United States.

While the U.S. does not typically embrace such exchanges, it made the deal in part because Yaroshenko had already served a long portion of his sentence.

The Russians may consider Griner someone who could figure into another such exchange.

RELATED: Brittney Griner prisoner swap for 'Merchant of Death' on the table, Russian media claims

Besides Griner, another American regarded as unjustly detained in Russia is Paul Whelan, a corporate security executive from Michigan. Whelan was arrested in December 2018 while visiting for a friend’s wedding and was later sentenced to 16 years in prison on espionage-related charges his family has said are bogus.

"Even though they’re separate people, separate roles, no connection besides what they’re going through in Russia, you know, I obviously want him back too," Cherelle said. "You don’t want anybody to be there, going through what they’re going through."

PALMETTO, FLORIDA - AUGUST 10: Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury walks hand and hand with wife Cherelle Watson after defeating the Dallas Wings at Feld Entertainment Center on August 10, 2020 in Palmetto, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFeli

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Cherelle, who graduated from law school at North Carolina Central University earlier this month, hasn’t talked on the phone with Griner since the day she was first detained.

"I first heard the news through Brittney, actually. She started texting me around 2:00 a.m. that morning," Cherelle said. "‘Babe. Babe. Babe. Wake up. They have me in this room. I don’t know what’s going on.’ and so I instantly text back "Who are they and what room?"

Cherelle said Griner responded, texting: "The customs people. They just grabbed me when I was going through, and they have me in this room." Griner then sent a message saying, "They’re about to take my phone."

Cherelle said she told Griner to call her when she could. She’s still waiting for that call nearly 100 days later.

"The first week I laid on this couch and cried my eyeballs out. I was numb. I couldn’t move," Cherelle said. "And then I said, ‘You got to get up now.’"

Cherelle and Brittney communicate through letters and her lawyers. The attorneys print out articles to show Griner so she can keep up-to-date with what’s going on.

Initially, friends and teammates of Griner were hesitant to talk about her situation for fear of interfering with the ongoing negotiations for her release. However, they began cautiously speaking out before the women’s Final Four in early April as her detention gained more national attention.

Cherelle became emotional when talking about the support and how it helps Griner stay strong during the struggle for her release. The WNBA has acknowledged the 6-foot-9 Mercury center’s absence by putting a decal with her initials and number on the home floor of all 12 teams.

Continuing coverage

• Brittney Griner: State Department pushing to see basketball star as she remains detained in Russia
• Brittney Griner's pre-trial detention in Russia extended by 1 month, lawyer says
• Brittney Griner: Phoenix Mercury opens season without star player as she remains in Russian detention
• WNBA to honor Brittney Griner with league-wide floor decals
• Brittney Griner visited by US Embassy official in Russia, State Department says
• Can diplomatic efforts work to free WNBA star Brittney Griner?