Biden tells jailed star Brittney Griner’s wife he’s working to get her home

• Detained WNBA star wrote handwritten letter to US president
• White House says Biden has telephoned Griner's wife Cherelle

US president Joe Biden spoke Wednesday with the wife of detained WNBA player Brittney Griner, who is on trial in Russia, and assured her that that he is working to win Griner's freedom as soon as possible, the White House said.

Biden's conversation with Griner's wife, Cherelle Griner, followed Brittney Griner's personal appeal to the president in a handwritten letter from the basketball player the White House received on Monday. In the letter, Griner acknowledged her fears that she would spend forever in detention in Russia and asked Biden not forget about me and the other American Detainees".