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sports Diamars 5 Juli 2022

Griner sends letter to President Biden pleading for his help

(AP) – Brittney Griner has sporadic communications
made an appeal to Presi- with family, friends and
dent Joe Biden in a letter WNBA players through an
passed to the White House email account her agent set
through her representa- up. The emails are printed
tives saying she feared she out and delivered in bunches
might never return home to Griner by her lawyer after
and asking that he not " they are vetted by Russian of-
forget about me and the ficials. Once the lawyers get
other American Detain- back to their office, they'll
ees." scan any responses from Gri-
ner and pass them back to the
Griner's agent Lindsay Kaga- U.S. to send along.
wa Colas said the letter was
delivered on Monday. Most She was supposed to have a
of the letter's contents to phone call with her wife on
President Biden remain pri- their anniversary but it failed
vate, though Griner's repre- because of an "unfortunate
sentatives shared a few lines mistake," Biden administra-
from the hand-written note. tion officials.
Griner's supporters have en-
"…As I sit here in a Rus- couraged a prisoner swap like
sian prison, alone with my the one in April that brought
thoughts and without the home Marine veteran Trevor
protection of my wife, fam- Reed in exchange for a Rus-
ily, friends, Olympic jersey, The two-time Olympic gold ceived Griner's letter. the letter to use his powers to sian pilot convicted of drug
or any accomplishments, I'm medalist is in the midst of a "We believe the Russian Fed- ensure her return. trafficking conspiracy. The
terrified I might be here for- trial in Russia that began last eration is wrongfully detain- "Please do all you can to bring State Department in May
ever," Griner wrote. week after she was arrested ing Brittney Griner," NSC us home. I voted for the first designated her as wrongfully
on Feb. 17 on charges of pos- spokeswoman Adrienne Wat- time in 2020 and I voted for detained, moving her case
"On the 4th of July, our fam- sessing cannabis oil while re- son said on Monday. "Presi- you. I believe in you. I still under the supervision of its
ily normally honors the ser- turning to play for her Rus- dent Biden has been clear have so much good to do special presidential envoy for
vice of those who fought for sian team. The trial will re- about the need to see all U.S. with my freedom that you hostage affairs, effectively the
our freedom, including my sume Thursday. nationals who are held hos- can help restore," Griner said government's chief hostage
father who is a Vietnam War tage or wrongfully detained "I miss my wife! I miss my negotiator.
Veteran," the Phoenix Mer- Fewer than 1% of defendants abroad released, including family! I miss my teammates!
cury center added. "It hurts in Russian criminal cases are Brittney Griner. The U.S. It kills me to know they are Griner isn't the only Ameri-
thinking about how I usu- acquitted, and unlike in U.S. government continues to suffering so much right now. can being wrongfully de-
ally celebrate this day because courts, acquittals can be over- work aggressively – using ev- I am grateful for whatever tained in Russia. Paul Whel-
freedom means something turned. ery available means – to bring you can do at this moment to an, a former Marine and
completely different to me The White House National her home." get me home." security director is serving a
this year." Security Council confirmed 16-year sentence on an espio-
the White House has re- Griner pleaded with Biden in Griner has been able to have nage conviction.

Barcelona strengthens squad by adding Kessie, Christensen

(AP) — Barcelona boosted its was on the Danish national team that Barcelona called Kessie "the complete has impressive stats as a goal-scorer,
midfield and defense by signing reached the semifinals of the 2020 package" and a "strong midfielder partly due to his ability to make runs
Franck Kessie and Andreas Chris- European Championship. with tactical awareness." into the penalty area."
tensen on Monday. Barcelona called him "strong and
with great vision, a powerful center "Kessie is a player who contributes in He will join a midfield that includes
The 25-year-old Kessie, who had been back who is excellent in the air" and attack and in defense," the club said. Sergio Busquets, Nico González and
playing for AC Milan since 2017, ar- "technically proficient with the ball at "Capable of winning the ball back in Frenkie de Jong.
rives as a free agent on a contract until his feet, a perfect fit" for the Catalan midfield, the African midfielder also
June 2026 and a buyout clause of 500 club.
million euros ($522 million).
Christensen comes after his contract Kessie has 58 international appearanc-
with Chelsea ended. His deal is also es with his national team and played
until 2026 and contains the same at the Tokyo Olympics as Ivory Coast
buyout clause as Kessie's. reached the quarterfinals.

Kessie will be officially introduced Kessie moved to Italy in 2014 to sign
on Wednesday. The Ivory Coast mid- for Atalanta, where he played in the
fielder will be the second Ivorian to club's youth squads before joining
play for Barcelona, after Yaya Touré in second-division team Cesena on a
the late 2000s. loan. Coach Gian Piero Gasperini
The 26-year-old Christensen will be eventually brought him back to Ata-
introduced on Thursday. The Dan- lanta and he scored twice in his Serie
ish central defender joined Chelsea's A debut in 2016.
youth teams in 2012 and had a stint Kessie joined Milan on loan in 2017
with Borussia Mönchengladbach in and permanently signed with the club
the Bundesliga before returning to in 2019 for 33 million euros ($34.5
Chelsea. million). He helped AC Milan win its
first title in 11 seasons this year. In his
Christensen helped Chelsea win the six seasons with Atalanta and Milan,
Champions League, the Europea Kessie scored 45 goals.
League and the Club World Cup, and