Brittney Griner allegedly traveled with vape cartridges containing cannabis oil back in February while at a Moscow airport. She has been in jail in Russia ever since.
On Thursday, Griner pled guilty to having the substances while traveling, though she claimed she “didn’t want to break the law.”
“I’d like to plead guilty, your honor,” Griner said in court. “But there was no intent. I didn’t want to break the law.”
Mickey Bergman, who is working with Gov. Bill Richardson on Griner’s release, shared his thoughts on the matter.
“We believe that any prisoner in a situation like this needs to do what they believe can help them survive the ordeal,” Bergman said. “She is fighting for her life.”
ESPN’s T.J. Quinn went on to explain why pleading guilty is a strategic move by Griner’s camp.
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“As we’ve reported, sources said they expected this. It’s a strategy,” Quinn wrote. “Maybe she did what she was accused of, maybe she didn’t. But there was a recognition that it didn’t matter: she was going to be found guilty. The real issue is negotiations between the US and Russia to bring her home in a prisoner swap.”
The White House confirmed on Wednesday that President Joe Biden is “actively working to secure Brittney’s release as soon as possible.”
