U.S. Rep. Colin Allred says he is working with State Division to safe launch of WNBA star Brittney Griner from Russia

A U.S. congressman who performed soccer at Baylor is amongst these involved in regards to the welfare of Brittney Griner, who’s being held in Russia on drug expenses.

Rep. Colin Allred (D-Texas) spoke Wednesday about Griner, who performed for Baylor’s women’s basketball team from 2009 to 2013 and has been with the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury for 9 seasons.

Allred mentioned Griner, who additionally performed for UMMC Ekaterinburg, was detained in Russia on Feb. 17.

“My workplace has been in contact with the State Division, and we’re working with them to see what’s the easiest way ahead,” mentioned Allred, who’s a member of the Home Overseas Affairs Committee. “I do know the administration is working laborious to try to get entry to her and attempt to be useful right here. However clearly, it is also taking place within the context of actually strained relations. I do assume that it is actually uncommon that we have not been granted entry to her from our embassy and our consular companies.

“The Russian legal justice system could be very completely different than ours, very opaque. We do not have numerous perception into the place she is in that course of proper now. However she’s been held for 3 weeks now, and that is extraordinarily regarding.”

Allred referenced two different instances of People in recent times who’ve been imprisoned in Russia. Trevor Reed was arrested in 2019 after Russian authorities say he resisted arrest and attacked officers. Paul Whelan was arrested in 2018 on espionage expenses. Each males are former Marines and have disputed the costs in opposition to them. Reed was sentenced to 9 years in jail and Whelan 16.

“So this isn’t the primary time in recent times that an American has been detained after which held both with out cause or with no enough type of rationalization,” Allred mentioned. “What’s clearly completely different right here is that Brittney is an especially high-profile athlete, and it is taking place throughout the course of a Russian-begun battle in Ukraine, during which we’re deeply against what they’re doing.

“This may usually be run by way of our embassy or consular companies within the nation. It is also true that we’re drawing down a few of our embassy personnel in Moscow and the State Division has requested all People in Russian to depart. However I do not assume that is going to affect the power for them to advocate on her behalf.”

Allred performed soccer at Baylor from 2001 to 2005 and was within the NFL for 4 seasons with the Tennessee Titans. Griner led Baylor to the 2012 NCAA championship and was the highest choose within the 2013 WNBA draft. She has gained gold medals with the USA in two Olympics and two FIBA World Cups.

“After all for me, there’s a Baylor connection,” Allred mentioned. “And in addition being on the Overseas Affairs Committee, and having lately visited Ukraine and being intimately concerned with our response to the Russian aggression there. But in addition the truth that Brittney is a high-profile LGBTQ advocate and icon in some ways.

“I am positive her lawyer in Russia is working by way of the method. However each day for anybody being held, significantly being held abroad, is a lifetime. I acknowledge that for her family and friends, this should be extremely troublesome time. And for her, I am positive the uncertainty about what’s taking place might be simply horrible. And so, hopefully, no matter occurs, we are able to get this transferring rapidly and get her out.”