Brittney Griner trial - live: Wife describes ‘gut-wrenching time’ in rally with Al Sharpton
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Your support makes all the difference.More than four months after her arrest in Moscow, US women’s basketball star Brittney Griner has returned to court for the continuation of her trial for drug charges.
The two-time Olympian was led into court at Khimki City in handcuffs, clutching a photo of her wife Cherelle. She was joined by her lawyers and US embassy staff. Only a few journalists are permitted in court.
The charges against her include intentionally transporting narcotics. Facing up to 10 years in prison in Russia, Griner pleaded guilty but added there was no intent to break the law and she had packed in a hurry. She is hoping for leniency from the court.
Griner will give testimony later with the next court hearing scheduled for 14 July. Elizabeth Rood of the US Embassy was able to speak with her in court and share with her a letter from President Joe Biden.
A centre for the Phoenix Mercury, Griner had played for UMMC Ekaterinburg in Russia during the WNBA off-season, Griner was arrested when Russian airport security say they found vape cartridges containing hash oil in her luggage.
Russian officials have said Griner can seek clemency or appeal after any verdict is handed down.
Brittney Griner ‘decided to take full responsibility’ with guilty plea, Russian legal team says
Megan Rapinoe wears tribute to Brittney Griner while receiving Presidential Medal of Freedom 
Why is WNBA star Brittney Griner detained in Russia? Wife of detained basketball star Brittney Griner pleads US government to bring her back
ICYMI: Mercury hold public rally in support of Brittney Griner
They shared laughs, smiles, memories. There also were tears, fears, unease.
Through the range of emotions, one common thread bonded them together: Brittney Griner.
Wearing “BG” shirts and holding signs, several hundred fans gathered for a public rally in support of Griner on Wednesday, hoping their sentiments would reach the WNBA player 6,000 miles away in a Russian jail cell.
Conservatives blast Brittney Griner for 2020 comments about national anthem
Conservatives are slamming Brittney Griner for her 2020 comments about removing the national anthem from WNBA games and some are even comparing her to those jailed after the January 6 Capitol riot in 2021.
Gustaf Kilander reports.
Conservatives blast Brittney Griner for 2020 comments about national anthem
‘Bet she wants to hear the National Anthem now’
Megan Rapinoe wear tribute to Griner at Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony
Megan Rapinoe wore a powerful tribute to WNBA star Brittney Griner while attending the Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony this week where she received the nation’s highest civilian honour.
On Thursday, the professional soccer player, 37, and 16 others were presented with the award by President Joe Biden.
Ahead of the ceremony, Rapinoe revealed on her Instagram story that she’d chosen a cream suit jacket with the basketball player’s initials and a flower sewn into the lapel.
Chelsea Rischel reports.
Megan Rapinoe wears tribute to Brittney Griner during Medal of Freedom ceremony
The soccer player is one of 17 recipients of Presidential Medal of Freedom
Russian legal team: Griner ‘decided to take full responsibility’ with guilty plea
US basketball star Brittney Griner will take “full responsibility for her actions” to set an example to her fans, her Russian legal team said after she pleaded guilty to a drug charge in a Moscow court on Thursday.
The Olympic gold medallist’s lawyers hope that the plea will help her avoid a severe sentence and enable her to return home sooner.
Shweta Sharma has the story.
Brittney Griner ‘decided to take full responsibility’ with guilty plea
Her legal team hopes plea will help her avoid severe sentence
In US, Griner’s case would have been dismissed or acquitted, says lawmaker
Texas Rep Sheila Jackson Lee has described the Russian judicial system as “worse than a paper tiger”. The congresswoman has been working overtime to gain recognition for Brittney Griner’s freedom and national support.
This morning she spoke with Mika Brzezinski on MSNBC’s Morning Joe about her efforts on behalf of the WNBA star.
The lawmaker said: “Frankly, what happened to Brittney Griner and whatever she had, would have been in the court of law in the United States, a dismissal or an acquittal.”
ICYMI: Mercury hold public rally in support of Brittney Griner
They shared laughs, smiles, memories. There also were tears, fears, unease.
Through the range of emotions, one common thread bonded them together: Brittney Griner.
Wearing “BG” shirts and holding signs, several hundred fans gathered for a public rally in support of Griner on Wednesday, hoping their sentiments would reach the WNBA player 6,000 miles away in a Russian jail cell.
Lawyers counting on ‘leniency of Russian court’
Speaking outside of the courtroom, Brittney Griner’s lawyers say their plan now is to count on the leniency of the Russian court given the WNBA star’s guilty plea and statement that she did not intend to break the law by transporting the hash oil, but had been packing in a hurry.
It is hoped that this will speed up a verdict and move negotiations of a possible prisoner swap forward.
MSNBC reports:
Rev Al Sharpton and Cherelle Griner to speak about Brittney’s guilty plea
Reverend Al Sharpton will join Cherelle Griner, Brittney’s wife, as well as WNBA players, ahead of the league’s All-Star Game this afternoon in Chicago at a press conference following the two-time Olympian’s guilty plea in the Moscow court.
The press conference will gather people together to say “We are BG” and urge mercy and leniency to be granted on Ms Griner in her highly politicised trial in Russia.
They will also call on other faith leaders to continue to pray for Ms Griner as she faces up to 10 years in a penal colony.
“Brittney has admitted to making a mistake, and I hope the Russian authorities recognise that humbling act and respond with compassion,” said Rev Sharpton. “She is in the fight of her life right now, which is why we’ll be in Chicago to show our support for Brittney and for the Administration and their efforts to bring her home as soon as possible. We must all continue to pray she finds strength through this challenging time.”
Earlier this week, Rev Sharpton requested the Biden administration arrange a ministerial visit to Russia for him and other faith leaders to meet and pray over Griner. Her family has expressed concern for her well-being after more than four months in jail following her February arrest at a Moscow airport.
In April, the US State Department classified her as “wrongfully detained,” and because she is being used as a political pawn, will negotiate for her release regardless of the legal case.
On Wednesday, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke to Cherelle. During the call, the White House said, Biden read a note to Cherelle that he planned to send Brittney in response to her handwritten plea for freedom. That note was delivered to Ms Griner in court Thursday shortly before she pleaded guilty.
The press conference is scheduled for 4pm CT (5pm ET) this afternoon.
Rev Al Sharpton says Ms Griner wanted all fans regardless of ethnicity to have access to sports
During a press conference for WNBA star Brittney Griner, the Reverend Al Sharpton spoke and praised the basktball star for the way she treated fans all over the world.
“She didn’t see Russian fans any different than American fans. She saw all of them as fans that deserve the right to see women play basketball,” he said. “She did that and I hope that is what is considered. as we see what happens now that she’s taken this stance.”
Ms Griner’s wife, Cherelle, spoke after Mr Sharpton finished.
Brittney Griner’s wife, Cherelle, addresses supporters
Cherelle Griner addressed a crowd of supporters during a press conference today, delivering a hopeful prediction that her and her wife will soon be back together, but also sharing the reality of the pain she and her family have already endured.
She said she and her family have experienced “gut-wrenching pain” since Ms Griner was detained in Russia in February.
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