A Russian court on Tuesday denied weed-smuggler WNBA player Brittney Griner’s appeal and upheld her nine-year prison sentence on drug charges.
National security adviser Jake Sullivan said Tuesday’s decision was the product of “another sham judicial proceeding.”
“President (Joe) Biden has been very clear that Brittney should be released immediately,” he said, adding that the Biden administration has in recent weeks “continued to engage with Russia through every available channel and make every effort to bring home Brittney as well as to support and advocate for other Americans detained in Russia, including fellow wrongful detainee Paul Whelan.”
