Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) spearheaded a bipartisan group of more than 30 Senate colleagues today in a direct appeal to President Donald Trump, urging him to use his expected meeting with Communist Chinese President Xi Jinping at the upcoming APEC conference to secure the release of unjustly imprisoned Hong Kong pro-democracy leader, Jimmy Lai.
The letter emphasizes the urgent humanitarian need for Lai’s freedom, noting the 78-year-old devout Catholic’s rapidly deteriorating health after nearly five years in solitary confinement.
Lai, a diabetic suffering from numerous physical ailments, is currently on trial under Hong Kong’s National Security Law, facing potential lifelong imprisonment.
“Time is not on his side—he must be released immediately,” the Senators wrote to President Trump, expressing “deep respect for your outspoken advocacy for Mr. Lai.”
The lawmakers underscored that Lai’s representatives have assured them that if released, the former media tycoon and ardent campaigner for freedom would leave Hong Kong permanently and retire from public life. Conversely, they warned that his death in prison would make him “a powerful and enduring symbol of opposition.”
The letter concluded with a strong expression of confidence in the President’s ability to intercede: “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.”
Signatories to the letter included a diverse mix of Republicans and Democrats, showcasing broad, bipartisan support for the cause. Among the more than 30 cosigners were Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, Jim Risch, Lindsey Graham, Ted Cruz, Joni Ernst, and Democrats Jeanne Shaheen, Peter Welch, Jeff Merkley, Tim Kaine, and Raphael Warnock.
Who is Jimmy Lai?
Jimmy Lai is a prominent Hong Kong pro-democracy leader, entrepreneur, and former media mogul currently imprisoned by the Communist Chinese regime.
Key Facts:
- Background: Lai is a successful businessman, having founded the Asian clothing retailer Giordano and the pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily.
- Advocacy: He is an ardent campaigner for freedom and a strong, vocal critic of the Chinese Communist Party. His media outlets, particularly Apple Daily, were known for their pro-democracy and anti-corruption stance.
- Imprisonment: He is currently imprisoned and has been in solitary confinement for almost five years, facing charges under Hong Kong’s National Security Law, which his supporters and international observers consider politically motivated.
- Charges: He is on trial for charges including “conspiring to collude with foreign forces,” which carries a possible life sentence. He has also been convicted and sentenced in separate cases for fraud and for his involvement in peaceful pro-democracy protests.
- Health: At 78 years old, he is reported to be in poor and deteriorating health, suffering from diabetes and numerous physical ailments.
- Current Appeal: A bipartisan group of over 30 U.S. Senators, led by Senator Rick Scott, sent a letter to President Donald Trump asking him to secure Lai’s release during his expected meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping at the APEC conference. The Senators emphasized the urgent humanitarian case for his immediate release.
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