Yesterday we learned that Brittney Griner had called her wife 11 times while she continues being detained in Russia.
Unfortunately, due to a staffing issue, the attempts were all unsuccessful.
Today, the White House acknowledged the error and stated that the call will take place.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that the State Department was arranging a new call between the couple but didn’t say when.
State Department spokesman Ned Price said that a “logistical error” prevented the connection from happening, but reiterated that they’re working quickly to fix the situation.
The call was supposed to have transpired on Saturday, the couple’s fourth anniversary. It would have been the first time they would have spoken since Brittney Griner was detained in Russia on drug charges in mid-February.
The call was supposed to be routed through the American embassy in Russia, which would patch the call through to Cherelle.
But Cherelle told the AP on Monday that the call didn’t come through.
She later learned of her wife’s attempted 11 calls, but that no one picked up because the desk was unstaffed on Saturday.
Price noted that the issue was compounded because of restrictions placed on the embassy and its operations by the Russian government.
“This was an unfortunate mistake,” Jean-Pierre said Tuesday, adding that, “the Department of State is working to rectify this as quickly as possible.”
Brittney Griner’s plight is well known.
She was detained at a Russian airport on February 17th after authorities found vape cartridges and hashish oil.
Since then she’s languished in a Russian jail while the calls to bring her home have escalated.
Eventually, the White House got involved.
In May they declared Griner was “wrongfully detained”, which shifted the responsibility for bringing her home to the U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs.
Russia responded by extending her detainment to June.
Then last week they did it again and extended her detainment through at least July 2nd.
So not only is her detainment getting longer, she’s been unable to speak with her friends and family back home.
Hopefully, the call is made soon so the couple can speak.
“The State Department has been in regular touch with Mrs. Griner. She’s also spoken with Secretary [Antony] Blinken. Any American who is held abroad is a priority for this president,” said Jean-Pierre.
After they speak, let’s finally bring her home.
