Biden calls Brittney Griner’s wife after she attacked him for failing to help WNBA star detained in Russia

President Biden and vice-president Harris spoke on Wednesday with the wife of Brittney Griner, the WNBA star who has been detained in Russia since February.

Ms Griner’s family, including wife Cherelle Griner, have been critical of the White House, saying the president hasn’t done enough to free the Phoenix Mercury player from an unjust detention on minor drug charges.

“The President called Cherelle to reassure her that he is working to secure Brittney’s release as soon as possible, as well as the release of Paul Whelan and other U.S. nationals who are wrongfully detained or held hostage in Russia and around the world,” the White House said in a statement. “He also read her a draft of the letter the President is sending to Brittney Griner today.”

It added that other officials like Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan have been in previous contact with Cherelle Griner about the situation.

On Tuesday, Ms Griner said she found it “very disheartening” that she hadn’t heard back from the White House about her imprisoned wife, after Brittney Griner penned a letter to the president from Russian prison where she said she was ”terrified I might be here forever.”

Ms Griner told CBS she had been urged by government officials to remain quiet so as not to raise her wife’s value as a bargaining chip to Russian officials.

“I will not be quiet anymore,” Ms Griner told CBS. “I will find that balance of harm versus help and pushing our government to do everything that’s possible because being quiet means they are not moving, they are not doing anything.”

This is a breaking news story and will be updated with new information.