Risch, Scott, Colleagues Write Letter Asking President Trump to Secure Release of Unjustly Imprisoned Jimmy Lai

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, joined Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.), and more than 30 bipartisan colleagues in a letter to President Donald Trump ahead of his expected meeting with Communist Chinese President Xi Jinping asking the president to use this opportunity to secure the release of pro-democracy leader Jimmy Lai, who is unjustly imprisoned by the Communist Chinese regime and faces deteriorating health conditions.

Cosigners of the letter include: Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Jim Banks (R-Ind.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), John Curtis (R-Utah), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Jon Husted (R-Ohio), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), John Kennedy (R-La.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Dave McCormick (R-Pa.), Ashley Moody (R-Fla.), Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), and Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

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

Dear President Trump:

As you meet with Xi Jinping at the APEC conference this month, we encourage you to use this opportunity to secure the release of Hong Kong political prisoner Jimmy Lai.

We have deep respect for your outspoken advocacy for Mr. Lai. You understand the urgency of his plight: a devout Catholic, a beloved husband, father, and grandfather; and an ardent campaigner for freedom. Now, after almost five years in solitary confinement, Mr. Lai's trial under Hong Kong's National Security Law is coming to an end, but time is not on his side-he must be released immediately.

The humanitarian case for Mr. Lai's release is stronger and more dire than ever, which is why this must be addressed at the highest possible level. At 78 years old, he is in poor and deteriorating health. He is a diabetic and suffers from numerous physical ailments that are compounded by his continuing incarceration. Mr. Lai's representatives have assured us that if he is released, he will leave Hong Kong and never return. He would have no desire to remain in public life. Should he die in prison, on the other hand, he would become a martyr; a powerful and enduring symbol of opposition.

We have great confidence that, should you, as the leader of the free world, raise Jimmy Lai's case, President Xi will understand the importance of releasing Jimmy Lai now, before it is too late.

Sincerely,

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