III 

117TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 716 

Calling for the immediate release of Brittney Griner, a citizen of the United 

States, who was wrongfully detained by the Government of the Russian 

Federation in February 2022. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 21, 2022 

Mr. WYDEN (for himself, Mr. CORNYN, Mr. KELLY, Mr. CRUZ, Ms. SINEMA, 

Mr. WARNOCK, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mrs. SHAHEEN, Ms. 

SMITH, Mr. BROWN, Mr. CARDIN, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, 

Mr. CASEY, Mr. KAINE, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Ms. WARREN, Mrs. MURRAY, 

Mr. BOOKER, Mr. SANDERS, Mr. BENNET, Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. MERKLEY, 

Mr. SCHATZ, Mr. PETERS, Mr. PADILLA, Mr. COONS, Mr. 

HICKENLOOPER, Mr. DURBIN, and Mr. WHITEHOUSE) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

RESOLUTION 

Calling for the immediate release of Brittney Griner, a citizen 

of the United States, who was wrongfully detained by 

the Government of the Russian Federation in February 

2022. 

Whereas United States citizen Brittney Griner is a Women’s 

National Basketball Association (referred to in this preamble as ‘‘WNBA’’) player; 

Whereas Brittney Griner and her wife, Cherelle, are residents 

of Phoenix, Arizona, and are well respected leaders in 

that community; 


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•SRES 716 IS 

Whereas Brittney Griner was raised in Houston, Texas, and 

many of her family members live in Texas; 

Whereas after a prolific collegiate career at Baylor University, Brittney Griner was selected with the first overall 

pick in the 2013 WNBA draft by the Phoenix Mercury, 

where she has played her entire WNBA career; 

Whereas during her WNBA career, Brittney Griner has been 

named the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year twice 

and has been a WNBA All Star 7 times; 

Whereas Brittney Griner represented the United States as a 

member of the United States Women’s National Basketball Team at 2 Olympics, where she helped Team USA 

win gold medals in each appearance; 

Whereas Brittney Griner is an international figure who has 

played 7 seasons of professional basketball in Russia for 

UMMC Ekaterinburg during the WNBA off season; 

Whereas Brittney Griner is a renowned leader in the 

LGBTQ+ community; 

Whereas Brittney Griner has made a difference in the lives 

of many Arizonans, including through her annual ‘‘BG’s 

Heart and Sole Shoe Drive’’, which has provided shoes 

to nearly 2,000 people who are experiencing homelessness 

in the Phoenix area; 

Whereas the Phoenix Mercury and the Phoenix Rescue Mission are continuing this important effort to clothe the 

homeless in Brittney Griner’s absence; 

Whereas Brittney Griner was presumably detained by Russian authorities at Sheremetyevo Alexander S. Pushkin 

International Airport in Khimki, Russia, on February 17, 

2022, and accused of carrying vape cartridges with hashish oil; 


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•SRES 716 IS 

Whereas Russian authorities opened a criminal case against 

Brittney Griner for the alleged transportation of drugs, 

a crime which can carry a prison sentence of up to 10 

years; 

Whereas, on March 17, 2022, a Russian court denied a request for bail and house arrest for Brittney Griner, and 

has since extended her detention until July 2, 2022; 

Whereas the Department of State has determined that 

Brittney Griner is ‘‘wrongfully detained’’; and 

Whereas the Biden Administration has pledged to return 

Brittney Griner back to the United States as soon as 

possible: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) calls on the Government of the Russian 

3 Federation to immediately release Brittney Griner; 

4 (2) urges the United States, in all interactions 

5 with the Government of the Russian Federation, to 

6 raise the case of Brittney Griner and to press for 

7 her release; 

8 (3) expresses the continued support for Paul 

9 Whelan and all prisoners unjustly imprisoned in the 

10 Russian Federation; 

11 (4) urges the Government of the Russian Fed12 eration to provide consular access to Brittney Griner 

13 while she remains in detention; 


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•SRES 716 IS 

1 (5) urges the Government of the Russian Fed2 eration to respect the human rights of Brittney 

3 Griner; and 

4 (6) expresses support to the family of Brittney 

5 Griner and a commitment to bringing her home. 

Æ 


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