Risch Joins Scott, Colleagues in Sending Letter for UK, U.S. Cooperation to Free Jimmy Lai

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, yesterday joined Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and 49 of their bipartisan colleagues in sending a letter to United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer, urging him to work closely with President Trump and the U.S. government to secure the release of Jimmy Lai, a UK citizen and pro-democracy leader. Mr. Lai has been unjustly imprisoned by the Chinese Communist regime and is suffering from deteriorating health after five years of imprisonment.

"Like our president, we share Mr. Lai's values and admire his struggle for freedom, democracy, and the rule of law. We are encouraged by the U.S. and UK Governments' determination to free Mr. Lai. We know it will be difficult and that the UK will need to explore all possible avenues and use every tool at its disposal to secure Mr. Lai's freedom," the senators wrote.

Senator Risch and were joined by U.S. Senators John Thune (R-S.D.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W. Va.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Jim Banks (R-Ind.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), John Curtis (R-Utah), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Jon Husted (R-Ohio), John Kennedy (R-La.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ashley Moody (R-Fla.), Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), Jerry Moran (R-Kansas), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Ala.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), and Todd Young (R-Ind.).

Full text of the letter can be found here and below:

Dear Prime Minister,

We are a group of sitting U.S. senators who support President Trump's commitment to saving the life of the unjustly imprisoned Jimmy Lai and securing his release. As Mr. Lai is a U.K. citizen, we ask that you support this most urgent mission by discussing Mr. Lai's plight with the president during his state visit to the U.K.

Like our president, we share Mr. Lai's values and admire his struggle for freedom, democracy, and the rule of law. We are encouraged by the U.S. and U.K. Governments' determination to free Mr. Lai. We know it will be difficult and that the U.K. will need to explore all possible avenues and use every tool at its disposal to secure Mr. Lai's freedom.

This mission is urgent. Mr. Lai is 77, diabetic, and has recently been put on a heart monitor. He has been wrongly imprisoned for five years, and every day he spends in prison increases his risk of an untimely death. We cannot let that happen.

Time is running out for Mr. Lai. It is vital that the U.S. and the U.K. stand together in doing what is right.

Sincerely,

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