WNBA's Brittney Griner Pleads Guilty to Charges in Russia, Faces Up to 10 Years in Prison
“I’d like to plead guilty, your honor. But there was no intent. I didn’t want to break the law,” she said, holding up a photo of herself and her wife Cherelle as she walked into court, via Reuters.
“I’d like to give my testimony later. I need time to prepare,” she continued.
She currently faces up to 10 years in prison, and her trial is expected to continue for several weeks or months.
Brittney was arrested February 17 at the Sheremetyevo International Airport near Moscow on allegations that she was in possession of vape cartridges containing hash oil, and was then put into a Russian detention center where she has been held for more than four and a half months.
The U.S. State Department has classified her arrest as wrongful detainment.
“The Department of State has determined that the Russian Federation has wrongfully detained U.S. citizen Brittney Griner. The U.S. Government will continue to provide appropriate support to Ms. Griner and her family,” they said in a statement to People.
She wrote a plea to President Joe Biden for help, writing: “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.”
The White House said the President called her wife, to reassure her that they’re working to bring Brittney home.
People notes that is likely that Russia will want to set up an exchange, swapping her with Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer nicknamed the “Merchant of Death” who is currently serving a 25-year U.S. prison sentence for conspiring to sell weapons to people who said they planned to kill Americans.
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