Senator Rick Scott, joined by 50 other members of the U.S. Senate from both parties, has sent a letter to United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The letter urges the U.K. government to collaborate with President Trump and the United States to seek the release of Jimmy Lai, a pro-democracy activist and U.K. citizen currently imprisoned in China.
The senators’ letter comes as President Trump begins his second state visit to the United Kingdom. In their message, they emphasize concerns about Lai’s health and call on Prime Minister Starmer to discuss Lai’s case with President Trump during this visit.
In their communication, the senators wrote:
“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.”
The bipartisan effort includes signatories such as Senators John Thune, John Barrasso, Shelley Moore Capito, Jim Risch, Jeanne Shaheen, Jim Banks, Marsha Blackburn, John Boozman, Katie Britt, Ted Budd, Bill Cassidy, Susan Collins, Tom Cotton, Kevin Cramer, Mike Crapo, Ted Cruz, John Curtis, Steve Daines, Joni Ernst, Deb Fischer, Lindsey Graham, Chuck Grassley, Bill Hagerty, Josh Hawley, John Hoeven, Jon Husted, Ron Johnson, John Kennedy, James Lankford, Roger Marshall, Mitch McConnell (the Senate Republican Leader), Jeff Merkley (a Democrat), Ashley Moody (Florida Attorney General), Bernie Moreno (Ohio Senator), Jerry Moran (Kansas Senator), Markwayne Mullin (Oklahoma Senator), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska Senator), Rand Paul (Kentucky Senator), Gary Peters (Michigan Senator), Jack Reed (Rhode Island Senator), Pete Ricketts (Nebraska Senator), Eric Schmitt (Missouri Senator), Tim Sheehy (Montana Senator), Dan Sullivan (Alaska Senator), Tim Scott (South Carolina Senator), Thom Tillis (North Carolina Senator), Peter Welch (Vermont Senator), Roger Wicker (Mississippi Senator) and Todd Young (Indiana Senator).
Lai has spent five years in detention under charges widely viewed as politically motivated due to his pro-democracy activities in Hong Kong.
