BELOW SUPERNAV drop zone ⇩

Pressure grows on U.S. officials to free Griner from Russia

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

BE - Test Share

More Sports

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241114185800

(NewsNation) —WNBA superstar Brittney Griner has been in a Russian jail for over four months now and calls on President Joe Biden to do something to bring her back to the U.S. are growing louder.

A billboard in Washington, D.C., is urging lawmakers, particularly Biden, to act with more urgency to free Griner. An online petition also urging Biden to take action has garnered more than 250,000 signatures.

Members of the U.S. Embassy in Moscow say they’re doing everything they can to free Griner.

“I can assure you that the United States government at the very highest levels is working very hard to bring Ms. Griner, as well as wrongfully detained U.S. citizens, safely home,” said Elizabeth Rood, the deputy chief of mission at the embassy.

Griner faces up to 10 years in prison after she was allegedly spotted at a Russian airport with cannabis vape cartridges. Griner’s trial began in Russian court on Friday.

Rumors of a possible prisoner swap involving Griner persist, particularly a deal centered around Griner and Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, also known as “the merchant of death.”

Americans Alex Drueke, 39, and Andy Hyunh, 27, remain in Russian custody as well after they were captured fighting in Ukraine.

Now two British men are also in Russian custody, charged as mercenaries and possibly facing the death penalty. One of the men claims he was in Ukraine only to help others.

Sports

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

Site Settings Survey

 

MAIN AREA MIDDLE drop zone ⇩

Trending on NewsNation

MAIN AREA BOTTOM drop zone ⇩

tt

KC Chiefs parade shooting: 1 dead, 21 shot including 9 kids | Morning in America

Witness of Chiefs parade shooting describes suspect | Banfield

Kansas City Chiefs parade shooting: Mom of 2 dead, over 20 shot | Banfield

WWE star Ashley Massaro 'threatened' by board to keep quiet about alleged rape: Friend | Banfield

Friend of WWE star: Ashley Massaro 'spent hours' sobbing after alleged rape | Banfield

Clear

la

57°F Clear Feels like 57°
Wind
4 mph S
Humidity
87%
Sunrise
Sunset

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 53F. Winds light and variable.
53°F Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 53F. Winds light and variable.
Wind
6 mph WSW
Precip
15%
Sunset
Moon Phase
Waxing Gibbous