Biden Vows Not to Stop Trying to Get Brittney Griner and Others Out of Russia Despite Lack of ‘Positive Response’

After Joe Biden received his updated COVID vaccine shot today, he was asked about WNBA player Brittney Griner losing her appeal today in a Russian court.

A female reporter asked Biden, “What is your next move now that Brittney Griner lost her appeal?”

While buttoning up his cuff, Biden vowed in response, “We’re in constant contact with Russian authorities to get Brittney and others out and so far, we have not been meeting with much positive response, but we’re not stopping.”

REPORTER: "What is your next move now that Brittney Griner lost her appeal?"

BIDEN: "We're in constant contact with Russian authorities to get Brittney and others out and so far, we have not been meeting with much positive response, but we're not stopping." pic.twitter.com/YwZVmiwxYy

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) October 25, 2022

CNN’s Kaitlan Collins reported earlier on Biden’s national security advisor Jake Sullivan’s response to the appeal being denied.

“We are aware of the news out of Russia that Brittney Griner will continue to be wrongfully detained under intolerable circumstances after having to undergo another sham judicial proceeding,” Sullivan said.

Sullivan also added that Biden is “very clear” and that she should be released “immediately,” according to Collins.

“We are aware of the news out of Russia that Brittney Griner will continue to be wrongfully detained under intolerable circumstances after having to undergo another sham judicial proceeding,” Jake Sullivan says, adding Biden is “very clear” she should be released “immediately.”

— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) October 25, 2022

U.S. Congressman Colin Allred (D-TX) went to bat for Biden on MSNBC following the court’s decision. Allred shared a clip of his appearance on the network, which categorized Griner as a “detained American.”

“Despite the outcome today, let’s remember that Russia’s appeal process is a sham and that the Biden Administration, alongside Congress, remains committed to doing all it can to bring Brittney Griner home,” Allred declared in the tweet.

Despite the outcome today, let's remember that Russia's appeal process is a sham and that the Biden Administration, alongside Congress, remains committed to doing all it can to bring Brittney Griner home.

Watch my discussion with @jdbalart on @MSNBC. pic.twitter.com/uLj4fETnoN

— Colin Allred (@ColinAllredTX) October 25, 2022

Griner’s attorneys will appeal for her to be sent somewhere close to Moscow and she has been held at the Novoye Grishino pre-trial detention center for the past eight months, which is just outside of the capital city.

However, Griner’s sentence calls for her to be transferred to one of the hundreds of penal colonies in Russia, where conditions can be more brutal with inmates being required to perform labor during their sentence. Many of the colonies are scattered across Siberia.

Last-ditch Effort Falls Short As Brittney Griner Loses Appeal, Will Serve 9-Year Sentence Unless Biden Comes Through With a Prisoner Exchange