U.S. congressman Colin Allred (D-Texas) is reportedly working with the State Department to secure the release of Brittney Griner from Russian authorities, according to ESPN’s Mechelle Voepel.
Griner has been detained in Russia since Feb. 17 after the Russian Federal Customs Service found vape cartridges containing hashish oil in her luggage at Sheremetyevo International Airport near Moscow. Allread, who played football at Griner’s alma mater, Baylor, noted differences in the Russian criminal justice system as obstacles standing in the way of the WNBA star's safe return to the U.S.
“My office has been in touch with the State Department, and we’re working with them to see what is the best way forward,” Allred said. “I know the administration is working hard to try and get access to her and try to be helpful here ... The Russian criminal justice system is very different than ours, very opaque. We don’t have a lot of insight into where she is in that process right now. But she’s been held for three weeks now, and that’s extremely concerning.”
