A booking photo of WNBA star Brittney Griner was released on Russian state TV this week and obtained by CNN. The photo's release comes weeks after the athlete was detained in Moscow after custom agents claim they found vape cartridges of cannabis oil in her carry-on luggage.
Griner's whereabouts are not publicly known at this time, and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said recently there's not much he can say due to the sensitive nature of the situation.
"There's only so much I can say given the privacy considerations at this point," Blinken said during a joint news conference with the Moldova president Maia Sandu. "Whenever an American is detained anywhere in the world, we of course stand ready to provide every possible assistance, and that includes Russia."
Lawmakers worry that getting Griner out of Russia will be difficult because of the "nonexistent" diplomatic relations the US has right now amid the deadly war in Ukraine. But, President Joe Biden told the Congressional Black Caucus Monday (March 7) the administration is working on getting the Houston native home.
"The best news we got today was that they know about it and she's on the agenda," Rep. Shelia Jackson Lee, who represents Houston, told reporters.
Griner's wife, Cherelle Griner posted on Instagram, thanking for support while asking for privacy and describing the level of difficulty, she and their family members are having throughout all of this.
"We love you babe! People say “stay busy.” Yet, there’s not a task in this world that could keep any of us from worrying about you. My heart, our hearts, are all skipping beats everyday that goes by," Cherelle captioned a family photo.
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