Elon Musk‘s blistering take on Joe Biden’s push to free Brittney Griner

Elon Musk has entered the debate on US efforts to free basketball star Brittney Griner from a Russian jail - and it’s not without controversy.

Billionaire Elon Musk has weighed in on US efforts to get Brittney Griner released from a Russian prison.

The US basketball star was sentenced to nine years in prison over drug smuggling – a ruling Joe Biden called “unacceptable”

The US president said he would “work tirelessly and pursue every possible avenue” to repatriate Griner – and that could include a prisoner swap.

That prompted Tesla CEO Musk to question why so many Americans are imprisoned for the same offence in the US.

“If the president is working so hard to free someone who is in jail in Russia for some weed, shouldn’t we free people in America?” Musk asked on an episode of the Full Send podcast, the New York Post reports.

Elon Musk said the US shouldn’t imprison people on cannabis charges. Picture: Getty Images

“There are people in jail in America for the same stuff. Shouldn’t we free them too? My opinion is that people should not be in jail for non-violent drug crimes.”

A Russian court “found the defendant guilty” of smuggling and possessing “a significant amount of narcotics”.

Judge Anna Sotnikova jailed Griner, one of the world’s greatest basketball players, in a Russian penal colony and said she would also have to pay a fine of one million rubles ($16,590).

“I love my family,” Griner told journalists after the ruling in a court in the town of Khimki just outside Moscow, as the 2.06-metre athlete was led away by police.

Her defence team told reporters the 31-year-old – known as BG to her friends and fans – was “very upset” and “very stressed”.

Brittney Griner has been jailed for nine years in Russia. Picture: AFP

Mr Biden immediately released a statement, calling the Russian court’s sentencing of Griner “unacceptable”.

“Russia is wrongfully detaining Brittney,” Mr Biden said in the statement.

“It’s unacceptable and I call on Russia to release her immediately so she can be with her wife, loved ones, friends and teammates.”

Griner’s trial accelerated in recent days as the United States and Russia discuss a potential prisoner swap that could involve the basketball star.

The US has offered to free convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout, but Russia reportedly thinks a two-for-one deal was not acceptable.

Bout is serving a 25-year sentence for planning to sell weapons to a Colombian terrorist group.

Bloomberg reports Vadim Krasikov is a prisoner Russia is keen to swap for – he is currently jailed in Germany for murder and has been linked with Russia’s spy agency.

Another possibility is Vladislav Klyushin, who was extradited from Switzerland to the US last year on insider-trading charges.

The White House urged Russia later on Thursday to accept its offer of a deal for the release of Griner and former US Marine Paul Whelan, who was imprisoned on espionage charges.

“We have made a substantial offer to bring her and Paul Whelan home. We urge Russia to accept that proposal,” said White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre.

‘HONEST MISTAKE’

Griner was detained at a Moscow airport in February after she was found carrying vape cartridges with cannabis oil in her luggage.

The arrest came just days before Moscow launched its military intervention in Ukraine.

Prosecutors had earlier requested the two-time Olympic basketball gold medallist and Women’s NBA champion be sentenced to nine-and-a-half years in prison on drug smuggling charges.

Griner’s trial came with tensions soaring between Moscow and Washington over Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine that has sparked international condemnation and a litany of Western sanctions.

The 2-metre tall athlete says it was an honest ‘mistake’. Picture: AFP

“I made an honest mistake and I hope that your ruling doesn’t end my life here,” Griner said earlier on Thursday.

“I want the court to understand it was an honest mistake that I made while rushing, under stress, trying to recover from post-Covid and just trying to get back to my team.”

Griner pleaded guilty to the charges, but said she did not intend to break the law or use the banned substance in Russia.

Her defence team said they were “very disappointed” by the verdict and would appeal.

“The court completely ignored all the evidence of the defence, and most importantly, the guilty plea,” lawyers Maria Blagovolina and Alexander Boykov said in a statement.

“The verdict is absolutely unreasonable. We will certainly file an appeal.”

SENTENCE ‘TOO HARSH’

Boykov told reporters the ruling was too harsh and many Russians usually get a suspended sentence for such a crime.

National Basketball Association and Women’s National Basketball Association leaders said the athlete’s sentence was “unjustified and unfortunate, but not unexpected”.

“The WNBA and NBA’s commitment to her safe return has not wavered and it is our hope that we are near the end of this process of finally bringing BG home to the United States,” WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert and NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a joint statement.

Her WNBA team the Phoenix Mercury said it was “heartbroken” for Griner but remained “confident in the public servants working every day to return her to her family and us”.

The US has appealed for Griner’s release. Picture: AFP

“While we know it was never the legal process that was going to bring our friend home, today’s verdict is a sobering milestone in the 168-day nightmare being endured by our sister, BG,” the Mercury said in a statement.

Prosecutor Nikolay Vlasenko had said Griner “deliberately” proceeded through the green corridor at customs and stated she had nothing to declare “in order to conceal” the substance.

Standing inside a cage for defendants before the start of the hearing, Griner held up a photo of herself with teammates from the Russian club she plays for.

Griner was detained when she came to Russia to play club basketball with UMMC Ekaterinburg during the US off-season – a common path for American stars seeking additional income.

The WNBA star said she had permission from a US doctor to use medicinal cannabis to relieve pain from her many injuries.