Sen. Mark Kelly optimistic about Brittney Griner's situation in Russia

Yvonne Wingett Sanchez, Arizona Republic
·1 min read
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United States' Brittney Griner (15) plays during a women's basketball preliminary round game against Japan at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 30, 2021, in Saitama, Japan.
United States' Brittney Griner (15) plays during a women's basketball preliminary round game against Japan at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 30, 2021, in Saitama, Japan.
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Sen. Mark Kelly struck an optimistic tone Friday about Phoenix Mercury star Brittney Griner’s detention, citing a briefing he had Thursday with officials from the State Department.

The seven-time WNBA All-Star and two-time Olympian reportedly was arrested in February after a drug-sniffing dog allegedly detected vaping equipment with cannabis oil cartridges at an airport near Moscow.

WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner leaves a courtroom after a hearing, in Khimki just outside Moscow, Russia, Friday, May 13, 2022.
WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner leaves a courtroom after a hearing, in Khimki just outside Moscow, Russia, Friday, May 13, 2022.

Her detention coincided with the tensest United States standoff with Russia in decades and as Russia was preparing to mount its bloody invasion of neighboring Ukraine.

Members of Arizona’s congressional delegation have deliberately been circumspect about Griner’s situation, other than to issue broad statements about their concern for her well-being and access to her attorneys and state department officials.

Read more: Brittney Griner's detention in Moscow extended: What to know

Kelly, D-Ariz., and a member of the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee, said he frequently speaks with the State Department officials about Griner’s situation and spoke with them again for 45 minutes Thursday before heading back to Arizona from Capitol Hill.

“It is being worked on,” he said. “I feel better about it today than I did a week ago … Let me just leave it at that. These are sensitive conversations between State and other, other individuals.”

Kelly's comments came while speaking to reporters after appearing at a campaign event in Mesa, where he announced the co-chairs of his re-election campaign. He is running for a full six-year term and will face the winner of a crowded GOP primary.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly optimistic about Brittney Griner's situation