In a handwritten letter from Brittney Griner that was delivered to the White Home on Monday, the WNBA participant wrote how terrified she is that she could also be imprisoned in Russia “eternally.” 

Griner’s spouse Cherelle informed “CBS Mornings” that when she learn the letter, she may really feel the concern that Griner was experiencing. 

“She might be the strongest individual that I do know, so she would not say phrases like that frivolously. Meaning she really is terrified that she might by no means see us once more. You recognize, I share those self same sentiments,” Cherelle stated. 

Cherelle, who has solely spoken lately to her spouse by letters, stated she feels that Griner determined to put in writing to President Joe Biden straight as a result of the household has had no luck in contacting him.

“It kills me each time that, you recognize, when I’ve to put in writing her and he or she’s asking, ‘Have you ever met with them but?’ And I’ve to say no… I am certain she is like ‘I’ll write him and ask now as a result of my household has tried to no avail, so I’ll do it myself,'” stated Cherelle.

Even after yesterday’s letter was delivered, Cherelle stated she has not heard from Biden straight and he or she stated that’s “very disheartening.” 

Griner was arrested at a Moscow airport in February after officers in Russia claimed she had hashish oil in her baggage. A Russian decide ordered Griner, the Phoenix Mercury heart who performed in Russia in the course of the WNBA low season, to stay in custody. If convicted on drug smuggling costs, Griner may face 10 years in a Russian jail. Her trial will resume on July 7. 

Cherelle stated when she first heard about Griner being charged by the Russian authorities for a “large-scale transportation of medication,” she could not imagine it. 

“It blew my thoughts as a result of I am like large-scale? I dwell with B.G. on daily basis, and so there is not any manner attainable. So I knew it wasn’t true the minute that I heard the cost as a result of I do know my spouse. I am like, no,” she stated “It’s totally unlucky, you recognize, that she’s on this place as a result of B.G. doesn’t large-scale do something in site visitors of medication. It was very very arduous to listen to that cost.”  

Griner’s trial began final week after a number of delays. Images of Griner coming into the courtroom are among the solely visuals that Cherelle has seen of Griner. A kind of pictures triggered her to fret and made her ask Griner if she was okay and if she was “insane at this level.” 

“I truthfully wrote her and was like, “Hey honey, you recognize, I noticed an image of you, and I do know there’s such factor as propaganda, however I’ve to ask, I am inclined to ask… are you okay? Are you insane at this level? Perceive that in case you are, I nonetheless love you and if you come again, we are going to love you again entire, present your self grace. If you’re not insane, please assist my conscience and type of inform me, you recognize, some extra context in regards to the image,'” Cherelle recalled asking. 

Cherelle stated Brittney responded: ‘I used to be very weak at that second. However I promise I am not insane, not but’ she stated. ‘However I used to be startled as a result of I turned the nook, and it was like a whole bunch of media simply sitting there with cameras and issues ready.'” 

The U.S. Division of State, which has been working with Cherelle, stated that it decided that Brittney is being wrongfully detained. 

Cherelle stated that she is working rigorously to make sure that her spouse is launched from jail and is returned to the USA. 

“Initially I used to be informed, you recognize, we’re going to attempt to reserve, we’ll attempt to deal with this behind scenes and let’s not increase her worth and you recognize keep quiet. You recognize, I did that and respectfully, we’re over 140 days at this level. That doesn’t work,” Cherelle stated. “So I cannot be quiet anymore. I’ll discover that stability of, you recognize, hurt versus assist in pushing our authorities to do every little thing that is attainable as a result of being quiet, they are not shifting, they are not doing something. So my spouse is struggling, and we now have to assist her.”