How the White House is Handling Brittney Griner's Russia Detention

The White House is facing cross-spectrum scrutiny over its handling of WBNA star and Olympic medalist Brittany Griner's detention in Russia.  

Griner has been detained in Russia since February 17 after being arrested at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport when cannabis-infused vape cartridges were allegedly found in her luggage.  She could face as much as 10 years in prison if found guilty of drug smuggling charges, and acquittals in Russia are rare. Griner went on trial last week, and her hearings started Thursday; she pleaded guilty Thursday but stressed that she didn't intend to break the law. Griner recently wrote a letter to President Joe Biden pleading for her release, and her wife echoed that plea in a call to Biden this week.

Russia says that a prisoner exchange between the U.S. and Russia would be difficult. There was a prisoner swap in late April when Washington exchanged Konstantin Yaroshenko, a Russian pilot accused of drug trafficking, for U.S. Marine Trevor Reed.

Reports from sources across the political spectrum focused on criticism of Biden's handling of the situation. Some coverage from left-rated outlets highlighted voices who said Griner's race and gender were factors in the U.S.'s purportedly lacking efforts to negotiate her release. Some reports from right-rated outlets highlighted criticism of the Biden administration for purportedly ignoring the plight of former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, who has been imprisoned in Russia since 2018 after being accused of spying.