WNBA star Brittney Griner pleaded guilty to drug charges Thursday in a Russian court.
“I’d like to plead guilty, your honor. But there was no intent. I didn’t want to break the law,” Griner said in English, which was then translated into Russian for the court, Reuters reports.
The two-time US Olympic gold medalist could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
Griner was arrested back in February at a Moscow-area airport after authorities said they found cannabis oil in her luggage. She has been in custody ever since on drug smuggling charges.
In May, the Biden administration officially determined that Griner is being wrongfully detained in Russia.
Thursday the State Department said they are continuing to work for Griner’s release.
“I would like again to emphasize the commitment of the U.S. government at the very highest level to bring home safely Ms. Griner and all U.S. citizens wrongfully detained as well as the commitment of the U.S. Embassy in Moscow to care for and protect the interests of all U.S. citizens detained or imprisoned in Russia,” said Elizabeth Rood, deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow.
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