Detained in Russia since February, Griner’s cause is gaining urgency.
: bring her home. That sentiment has only grown stronger in the months since. Thursday’s news of a guilty plea makes it all the more urgent Biden finds a way to remove her from Russia’s clutches.
Griner has been detained in Russia since her February arrest at a Moscow airport, where she arrived from New York, allegedly in possession of cannabis oil that she now reportedly says had been mistakenly packed in haste. The two-time Olympic gold medalist was there to play with a Russian team in the WNBA off-season, a testament to the immense gender pay gap women basketball players face in contrast to their counterparts in the NBA.
At first, the administration’s involvement was muted, as some speculated that a large campaign might only drive up her value as a bargaining chip for Russia. We waited, too, trusting there was more being done behind the scenes. Others questioned if the relative quiet was an indication that the administration just wasn’t pushing as hard for a Black, gay woman whose skills far outmatched her household recognition.
After her trial began last week, Griner’s cause continued to gain attention as her wife, Phoenix Mercury teammates, fans, politicians and others have rallied for her return. Now that she has pleaded guilty, she faces up to 10 years in prison. The plea comes after five months in detention in a country where defendants are acquitted in just 1 percent of criminal cases,
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