Calls grow for Japan to release U.S. Naval Officer Lt. Ridge Alkonis

President Biden is set to meet with Japan's Prime Minister this Friday, where we can expect he will be asking the US for more help containing China.

In May of 2021, Lt. Ridge Alkonis was driving and had what the Navy concluded was a medical emergency when he blacked out at the wheel and two pedestrians were killed. He was charged and convicted with a crime and, on July 25, 2022, started a 3-year prison sentence in Japan. (Photo: Alkonis family). Credits: kutv

In exchange, the Wallstreet journal makes the case Biden should be pushing Japan in return to free a U.S. service member from prison, U.S. Navy Lt. Ridge Alkonis, stationed in Japan in 2021 when he fell unconscious at the wheel of the car on a family trip. He then crashed that car, killing two Japanese bystanders.

Photo: Alkonis family (credits: kutv)

Doctors say he suffered acute mountain sickness, and there would be no suspicions of driving under the influence. Still, Lt. Ridge was sentenced to three years in prison, and just last month Pentagon stopped his pay and benefits. His family says they feel betrayed.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, center, on Jan. 9 after arriving in France, the first stop on his weeklong five-country tour. © Pool photo/Kyodo

Alkonis's parents, Derek and Susie, shared their sentiments with Fox News. Derek said, "Well, first of all...our hearts go out to the victims, the Japanese families, that are involved in this as well. We would have loved to be able to connect with them through this process, but that just wasn't the case".

"And in terms of what we are getting from the Whitehouse...things have been done recently to allow Ridge and his family to be paid, basically an act of Congress through the omnibus appropriations bill process; there was an amendment drawn up, and it was overwhelmingly supported that allows him to be paid."

He ended with a plea, "We know that the Japanese Prime Minister is coming, and President Biden should talk for Ridge to be back home."

Image Credit: REUTERS

U.S. Senator from Utah, Mike Lee, tweeted, "When Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida arrives in Washington later this week, he needs to have U.S. Navy Lt. Ridge Alkonis with him. #BringRidgeHome"

Source - Fox News