Brittney Griner arrest: GOP congressmen urge Biden admin to stand up to ‘bully’ Putin amid star’s detention

EXCLUSIVE: Within the wake of WNBA star Brittney Griner’s detention in Russia, U.S. Reps. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., and Burgess Owens, R-Utah, have referred to as on the Biden administration to ship a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin, letting him know People won’t be held as political pawns within the midst of the nation’s invasion of Ukraine.

Donalds and Burgess, in a letter to President Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken – and solely obtained by Fox Information Digital – acknowledged Griner might have violated Russian regulation however wrote that her detention since someday in February was regarding given the deteriorating geopolitical local weather.

“At this time, we write to you concerning the unlucky case of Girls’s Nationwide Basketball Affiliation (W.N.B.A) star Heart Brittney Griner who stays in a Russian jail for violating the nation’s unlawful substance legal guidelines,” the Congress members wrote. “Each American – no matter their race, gender, or socioeconomic standing – should adhere to the foundations of each sovereign nation. Whereas we’re not right here to name balls and strikes on Russian regulation, we’re very involved about Mrs. Griner’s detention beneath the present and quickly deteriorating circumstances in Russia and Jap Europe.

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‘Slap within the face’

“Whereas Mrs. Griner made a grave mistake, we condemn the Russian authorities’s utilization of her as a pawn to additional their ruthless and sick purpose of fulfilling the reincarnation of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). We name upon your administration to look Putin within the eyes and ship a transparent message to the Kremlin that America won’t tolerate Putin utilizing People as his pawn throughout this treacherous and bleak second in world historical past. Putin’s unprovoked and murderous assault on Ukraine is a slap within the face to the Western world, and it’s time that america stands as much as this bully. Mrs. Griner has proudly represented our nation right here at dwelling and on the world stage, turning into one of many few W.N.B.A gamers to win a university championship, W.N.B.A and Euroleague titles, and an Olympic gold medal — and we urge the protected return of Mrs. Griner and some other People detained in Putin’s hellhole of a rustic.”

Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury warms up earlier than a recreation towards the Chicago Sky at Feld Leisure Heart on Aug. 12, 2020 in Palmetto, Florida.
(Getty Photographs)

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The WNBA star was arrested final month after authorities mentioned a search of her baggage revealed vape cartridges containing oil derived from hashish. Griner may resist a decade in jail if she’s convicted.

‘Freedom should all the time prevail’

“In closing, it’s extra obvious than ever that actions have penalties, however no American ought to fall hostage to a heinous and deranged dictator,” they added. “As Ukraine continues to battle for its freedom valiantly, america of America should ship a message to the world that freedom should all the time prevail and that no American can be left behind. We pray for Ukraine and the protected return of Brittney Griner.”

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Donalds serves Florida’s nineteenth Congressional District and sits on the Home Finances Committee, Oversight and Reform Committee and Small Enterprise Committee. He gained his congressional election in 2020 with 61.2% of the vote.

Sue Fowl, proper, and Diana Taurasi, left, embrace with Brittney Griner, middle, of the USA Girls’s Nationwide Staff after profitable the Gold Medal Sport of the 2020 Summer time Olympics in Tokyo, Aug. 8, 2021.
(Getty Photographs)

Owens, a former NFL participant and Tremendous Bowl champion, serves Utah’s 4th Congressional District. He sits on the Schooling and Labor Committee and Judiciary Committee.

WNBA and Olympic champion

Griner is likely one of the greatest basketball stars in both the boys’s or ladies’s recreation. She’s a seven-time WNBA All-Star and one-time WNBA champion who is about to play her tenth season for the Phoenix Mercury this summer season.

Griner has additionally gained two Olympic gold medals taking part in for Staff USA.

She’s performed in Russia for almost so long as she’s performed within the WNBA. With UMMC Ekaterinburg, she’s a three-time Russian Nationwide League champion and four-time EuroLeague champion. She gained a nationwide championship in 2012 with Baylor.

U.S. Rep. Burgess Owens, R-Utah, speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, April 20, 2021.
(Related Press)

She’s spent her final seven winters in Russia the place she earns greater than $1 million per season. The determine is greater than quadruple her WNBA wage. She final performed for her Russian group, UMMC Ekaterinburg, on Jan. 29 earlier than the league took a two-week break in early February for the FIBA World Cup qualifying tournaments.