“It has the fullest attention of the president and every senior member of his national security and diplomatic team, and we are actively working to find a resolution to this case and will continue to do so without rest until we get Brittney safely home,” Sullivan told reporters on Air Force One.
Sullivan on Tuesday said he and Secretary of State
Antony Blinken have both spoken in the last few days with Griner’s wife, Cherelle Griner, to “convey our very deep sympathy, convey that we just can’t even begin to imagine what the family must be going through, what Brittney must be going through.”
Cherelle Griner last week said she hasn’t spoken to her wife since February and that she tried to call through the U.S. Embassy in Russia for their anniversary but they were never connected.
Sullivan reiterated to reporters that
Brittney Griner is “wrongfully” and “unjustly” detained and called for her safe release.
“The United States government is actively engaged with trying to solve this case and get Brittney home,” he added, but wouldn’t go into details. Sullivan also didn’t provide an update on how Griner is doing when asked by a reporter.
Multiple organizations, including the NAACP, the Human Rights Campaign and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association, have called on
Biden to broker a deal with Russia for Griner’s release.
