U.S. Govt. Now Says Russia 'Wrongfully Detained' Brittney Griner
ESPN.“The change in official designation means that the U.S. government will no longer wait for Griner’s case to play out through the Russian legal system and will seek to negotiate her return,” ESPN reports. “It also means that Griner's fellow WNBA players and supporters in Congress will be told they have the family’s blessing to bring as much attention to her case as they wish.”A State Department official confirmed the change in a statement to the outlet late Monday. “The Department of State has determined that the Russian Federation has wrongfully detained U.S.
citizen Brittney Griner,” the official said. “With this determination, the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens will lead the interagency team for securing Brittney Griner’s release.”The department’s consular office had previously been in charge of Griner’s case.
The consular office “monitors the cases of any American being held abroad without necessarily intervening,” ESPN notes.A source also told ESPN that Bill Richardson, former U.S.
ambassador to the United Nations, had agreed to assist in Griner’s case. He has been involved in several international hostage negotiations.
