Senator Baldwin, Bipartisan Group of Senators Call on Russia to Release Brittney Griner From Wrongful Detention

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) joined a bipartisan group of colleagues in calling on the Russian government to immediately release U.S. citizen Brittney Griner from her wrongful detention, and urging the U.S. government in all its interactions with the Russian government to press for the WNBA player’s release. In addition to demanding action to end the 5-month-long wrongful detention of Griner, the resolution also expresses support for U.S. citizen Paul Whelan and all prisoners unjustly imprisoned in the Russian Federation.

“Brittney Griner needs to be released, she should be free to come home to her family,” said Senator Baldwin. “This Senate Resolution has earned the support of Democrats and Republicans because we are standing together in support of Brittney being free and returning home to her family.”

The Senate resolution was led by Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and John Cornyn (R-TX), and is also co-sponsored by Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tina Smith (D-MN), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Robert Casey (D-PA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Gary Peters (D-MI), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Chris Coons (D-DE), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Richard Durbin (D-IL), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).

A copy of the Senate resolution can be found here.

An online version of this release is available here.