U.S. officials and Russia experts have …

U.S. officials and Russia experts have described the trial, which was in its second day, as “theater,” with a guilty verdict seen as a foregone conclusion. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov warned Thursday that “attempts by the American side to make noise in public … don’t help the practical settlement of issues.” The White House said President Joe Biden called Griner’s wife on Wednesday to assure her that he’s doing all he can to obtain the athlete’s release, as soon as possible. They spoke after Biden read a letter from Griner in which she said she feared she’d never return home.