Amidst news Brittney Griner has pled guilty to bringing hashish oil into Russa –which could mean ten years in a Russian prison– U.S. basketball champion LeBron James has questioned whether she would want to return to America even if she was released.
On a trailer for a new episode of his show, “The Shop,” James said: “Over 110 days, now how could she feel like America has her back?” James said. “I would be feeling like, ‘Do I even want to go back to America?'”
He received so much backlash for it that he clarified his stance on Twitter:
“My comments on ‘The Shop’ regarding Brittney Griner wasn’t knocking our beautiful country,” James wrote. “I was simply saying how she’s probably feeling emotionally along with so many other emotions, thoughts, etc inside that cage she’s been in for over 100+ days! Long story short #BringHerHome.”
The Guilty Plea
Brittney Griner has been detained in Russia since February this year, days before the Russian government invaded Ukraine, for supposedly carrying hashish oil in her luggage as she entered the country to play basketball. Earlier this month, the WNBA star pleaded guilty, telling a judge she had done so “inadvertantly.”
“[Griner] told the court that she packed vape cartridges accidentally and did not intend to break Russian law,” according to ESPN.
Griner’s guilty plea could be her best option. According to CBS, “less than 1 percent of defendants are acquitted in Russian criminal cases…The chances of Griner staying out of prison with a not guilty plea were slim.”
It could be strategic. “Traditionally, the best defense is to admit your guilt and hope you get a lesser sentence,” William Pomeranz, the acting director of the Wilson Center’s Kennan Institute in Washington and an expert on Russian law, told ESPN. “There’s not a lot of examples of people raising strong defenses and getting acquitted.”
Griner’s legal team believe that the admission of guilt should help the situation. “We of course hope for the leniency of the court,” her lawyer, Maria Blagovolina, told reporters. “Considering all the circumstances of the case, taking into account the personality of our client, we believe that the admission of guilt should certainly be taken into account.”
A guilty plea doesn’t mean it is over. The trial could go on for weeks or months, and her detention has been authorized until December 20, 2022.
Elizabeth Rood, deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, said the U.S. government is doing their best to bring Brittney home. “I would like again to emphasize the commitment of the U.S. government at the very highest level to bring home safely Ms. Griner and all U.S. citizens wrongfully detained as well as the commitment of the U.S. Embassy in Moscow to care for and protect the interests of all U.S. citizens detained or imprisoned in Russia,” she said.
While Griner’s supporters have suggested a prisoner swap –which has occurred between America and Russia before– Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov has warned that “attempts by the American side to make noise in public…don’t help the practical settlement of issues.”
Ryabkov continued that, until the trial is over, “There are no formal or procedural reasons to talk about any further steps.”
He also warned that any criticism about the detention, including describing Griner as wrongfully detained, “makes it difficult to engage in detailed discussion of any possible exchanges.”
“The persistence with which the U.S. administration … describes those who were handed prison sentences for serious criminal articles and those who are awaiting the end of investigation and court verdicts as ‘wrongfully detained’ reflects Washington’s refusal to have a sober view of the outside world,” Ryabkov said.
Letters between Brittney Griner and U.S. President Joe Biden
Days before the hearing, Brittney Griner sent a letter to the White House, appealing to President Biden to work hard to free her. Griner’s representatives released excerpts of the letter to the media:
“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.”
“On the 4th of July, our family normally honors the service of those who fought for our freedom, including my father who is a Vietnam War Veteran. It hurts thinking about how I usually celebrate this day because freedom means something completely different to me this year.”
“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. I still have so much good to do with my freedom that you can help restore. I miss my wife! I miss my family! I miss my teammates! It kills me to know they are suffering so much right now. I am grateful for whatever you can do at this moment to get me home.”
Biden and VP Kamala Harris spoke with Cherelle Griner soon after. “The President called Cherelle to reassure her that he is working to secure Brittney’s release as soon as possible,” the White House said in a statement. “The President offered his support to Cherelle and Brittney’s family, and he committed to ensuring they are provided with all possible assistance while his administration pursues every avenue to bring Brittney home.”
The call with the president came after Cherelle told CBS that she had found it “very disheartening” to not hear from Biden yet.
“It kills me every time that, you know, when I have to write her and she’s asking, ‘Have you met with them yet?’ And I have to say no… I’m sure she is like ‘I’m going to write him and ask now because my family has tried to no avail, so I’m going to do it myself,'” Cherelle said.
Biden has replied to Griner’s letter. Cherelle is feeling hopeful and heard by the president.
“I was able to read [Biden’s] letter, and it brought so much joy as well as BG,” Cherelle Griner said. “I believe every word that she said to [Biden] he understood, and he sees her as a person, and he has not forgotten her, which was her biggest cry in her letter.”
