MEAWW.COM / NEWS / HUMAN INTEREST

'Today my family is whole': Brittney Griner's wife Cherelle is 'overwhelmed' after WNBA star's release

Cherelle Griner, wife of Brittney Griner, spoke at the White House after Joe Biden announced that Russia released Griner from prison in exchange for a convicted arms dealer

WASHINGTON DC: Cherelle Griner, the wife of Brittney Griner, said that since the WNBA star was freed from Russian detention, their "family is whole" again. Cherelle said at a press conference held by Joe Biden on Thursday, December 8, at the White House on Thursday shortly after learning that Brittney, 32, was released from Russian custody in a prisoner swap for a convicted weapons dealer.

In a high-level prisoner exchange on Thursday, December 8, "facilitated by the UAE," Russia released WNBA star Brittney Griner in return for the US releasing notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, putting an end to a situation that triggered protracted, high-level talks between the United States and the Kremlin to win her freedom.

READ MORE

Brittney Griner is coming home! US government trades 'Merchant of Death' Viktor Bout for WNBA player

Trevor Reed: Biden REFUSES to meet family of Marine detained in Russia citing 'schedule constraints'

"She's safe. She's on a plane," President Biden said at the White House, announcing the exchange."She's on her way home. "So over the last nine months, you all have been so privy to one of the darkest moments of my life, and so today I am just standing here overwhelmed with emotions, but the most important emotion I have right now is just sincere gratitude for President Biden and his entire administration," she began as per the People.

Noting that Biden, 80, earlier stated that bringing a US citizen back from detention abroad "is not easy," Cherelle said, "There have been so many hands involved, and so I'd like to take a moment to just specifically mention a few." "Today my family is whole, but as you all are aware, there are so many other families who aren't whole." She then cited Paul Whelan, another American who remains jailed in Russia and who was not included in the swap centered around Griner. "Thank you everybody for your support, and today's just a happy day for me and my family, so I'm gonna smile right now," Cherelle added. "Thank you."

CBS News was the first to report the swap, which took place in the United Arab Emirates after it was confirmed by a US official. The exchange agreement negotiated with Moscow in recent weeks was given final approval by Biden within just the last week, according to sources familiar with the deal. The leaders of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates jumped in to take credit for the prisoner swap as soon as the announcement was made. "UAE, Saudi Ministries of Foreign Affairs announced the success of the mediation led by President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Prince Mohammed bin Salman," Emirates News Agency (WAM), the country's official outlet, said.