Biden under fire for handling of Brittney Griner's detention in Russia

The Biden administration is facing intense scrutiny over its handling of WNBA star Brittney Griner's detention in Russia, with some questioning the White House's commitment to helping based on Griner's race and gender.

Detained in Russia since Feb. 17 on marijuana-related charges, Griner has penned a letter to President Joe Biden while her friends and family plead with the administration to help. The State Department deemed her wrongfully detained in May, and Biden met with her wife, Cherelle, on Wednesday.

"The president offered his support to Cherelle and Brittney’s family, and he committed to ensuring they are provided with all possible assistance while his administration pursues every avenue to bring Brittney home," a White House readout of the conversation states.

Biden will now send a letter back to the detained basketball star, who has also spoken with national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

But none of that is appeasing Griner's advocates.

"If it was LeBron [James], he'd be home, right?" Phoenix Mercury coach Vanessa Nygaard said while speaking to reporters Monday. "It's a statement about the value of women. It's a statement about the value of a black person. It's a statement about the value of a gay person. All of those things. We know it, and so that's what hurts a little more."

The Rev. Al Sharpton is planning a "clergy visit" to Russia and wants to visit Griner in person.