After the news broke that Brittney Griner was launched by Russia in a one-for-one prisoner swap, her spouse spoke to CBS News’ Gayle King about how she realized the WNBA star would lastly be free after 10 months in Russian prisons.
King recalled listening to her cellphone ring Thursday evening as she was about to go on stage at an occasion. The individual on the opposite finish of the road was Cherelle Griner, Brittney Griner’s spouse.
“I was very surprised she was calling at this particular time,” King mentioned. “I thought, ‘What could this be?’ So, I started asking her about her day.”
Cherelle Griner instructed King she received a name from the White House a few week in the past saying they have been “feeling optimistic” however she had no thought what that meant. Then on Tuesday, Cherelle Griner was instructed she wanted to go to Washington, D.C., to satisfy with President Biden’s National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.
“Again, she said she’s very nervous,” King mentioned. “Is it good news, is it bad news? She started thinking, ‘Why would they call me to Washington if it was good news?'”
Despite not understanding what to anticipate, Cherelle Griner went, assuming she can be flying again house to Phoenix shortly after the journey. Instead, when she arrived within the nation’s capital, President Joe Biden requested to see her.
“She goes into the Oval Office and she said the first thing Joe Biden said to her was, ‘We got her,'” King mentioned. “Which, she said, ‘It just took me a minute to process exactly what that means.'”
King mentioned there have been the reason why the negotiation of Brittney Griner’s launch — which was in alternate for Russian arms seller Viktor Bout — was stored so quiet.
“The White House was so concerned about it leaking that they gave her very little details,” King mentioned. “And she said but once she got in, they said there was going to be a news conference. And they asked her, ‘Do you want to be in the audience? Do you want to stand beside me? Do you not want to be in the room?’ And she was so thankful and so grateful to President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. She said, ‘I will stand beside the two of you because you are bringing my wife home.'”
By then, Cherelle Griner’s happiness was straightforward to see after a tough yr.
“She’s still on cloud nine,” King mentioned. “She said, ‘Gayle … I’m smiling so much, my face hurts.'”
Cherelle Griner additionally selected a selected shade to commemorate her spouse’s return.
“She wore red yesterday,” King mentioned, “because it was Brittney’s favorite color.”