XPost: alt.religion.mormon, talk.politics.guns, alt.fan.rush-limbaugh   
   XPost: sac.politics   
   From: hammer@down.now   
      
   A U.S. Navy lieutenant and Mormon missionary living in Japan has been   
   sentenced to what his family calls a “shocking” three years in prison   
   after at least two people were killed in a traffic accident doctors said   
   may have been caused by a medical episode.   
      
   The family of Lt. Ridge Alkonis, through information compiled by the Pipe   
   Hitter Foundation (PHF), alleges several violations of the Status of   
   Forces Agreement (SOFA) between the U.S. and Japan, and some members of   
   Congress are also speaking out against his confinement – which began   
   Tuesday at 1 p.m. Japan Standard Time.   
      
   The PHF said in a document describing Alkonis’ situation other military   
   families are now “acutely aware that this terrible situation could have   
   been them” and are in “fear” that SOFA may be allegedly violated again in   
   the future.   
      
   Alkonis, who lived with his family in Yokosuka, had just finished a hike   
   on the famed Mount Fuji shortly before he was scheduled to be deployed on   
   the USS Benfold. Outside of his military duties, he was also part of a   
   mission with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.   
      
   While driving into the city of Fujinomiya, Alkonis lost consciousness and   
   the family’s vehicle drifted out of its lane and crashed into parked cars   
   at a restaurant, killing a woman and her son-in-law.   
      
   The PHF said Alkonis was not immediately taken to a hospital, but instead   
   arrested and detained in solitary confinement for nearly a month.   
   Neurologists eventually diagnosed him with Acute Mountain Sickness, which   
   can cause sudden fainting up to 24 hours after rapid altitudinal change.   
      
   The Alkonis family stated they also offered customary ‘gomenasai’ – or   
   apology – and wrote condolences to the family in addition to negotiating a   
   record $1.65 million gomensai settlement.   
      
   Gomenasai has a “high value” in the Japanese justice system, according to   
   Alkonis’ father Derek, who spoke to Fox News earlier this month. The   
   Alkonises expected a suspended sentence, which the PHF said is considered   
   “the norm” in such cases when remorse is shown – but Ridge was still   
   sentenced.   
      
   Mother Suzi Alkonis told “Fox News @ Night” that prosecutors claimed Ridge   
   fell asleep while driving, which was incorrect, she said: “He wasn’t   
   tired. He never felt sleepy. He never said so. He was mid-sentence with   
   his daughter when he slumped to the side unconscious – that’s not falling   
   asleep.”   
      
   While the Japanese Supreme Court – which like the U.S. bench chooses its   
   cases itself – could eventually hear Ridge’s plea, Suzy Alkonis said it   
   may be up to the Biden White House to secure a deal with Prime Minister   
   Fumio Kishida to bring her son home.   
      
   Alkonis’ case has brought about rare bipartisanship on Capitol Hill, with   
   some members of both parties calling for his release and condemning the   
   actions of the Japanese judiciary.   
      
   One Senate lawmaker who has been prominent in advocating for Ridge   
   Alkonis’ release is Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, who took to the Senate floor on   
   Monday.   
      
   “I find it nothing short of inexcusable that an American who experienced a   
   medical emergency should be treated so poorly by an Allied nation that   
   he’s protecting,” Lee said.   
      
   “Clearly the Japanese judicial system is trying to make an example of Lt.   
   Alkonis – perhaps stemming from a history of disputes over our Status of   
   Forces Agreement,” he said. “He is being targeted because he is an   
   American – and because he was in the unfortunate position of having   
   suffered a medical emergency that resulted in tragedy.”   
      
   Lee said the case is “no way for a friendly nation to treat a friendly   
   nation” – adding it is difficult to make such a pronouncement because of   
   the otherwise important, positive relationship between America and Japan.   
      
   “We’ve been allies for a long time,” Lee continued, going on to echo other   
   Alkonis advocates and call on President Biden to make a priority out of   
   Ridge’s case.   
      
   Former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who Biden appointed U.S. Ambassador to   
   Japan, should take immediate steps to secure Alkonis’ release, the senator   
   added.   
      
   “It’s not just about Ridge Alkonis and his family. It’s about the security   
   and confidence needed by every service family in the American armed forces   
   deployed whether in Japan or anywhere else – they need to know that we’ve   
   (the U.S.A.) got their backs.”   
      
   On the Democratic side, Rep. Mike Levin of California expressed what he   
   called “deep concern over the Japanese government’s handling of Lt. Ridge   
   Alkonis [and his case].”   
      
   Levin said the U.S. Navy opposes Alkonis’ sentence, adding his office is   
   working with the Pentagon to support his family.   
      
   “I will not be giving up on Lt. Alkonis and the Department of Defense must   
   not either,” he said.   
      
   A statement on the Pipe Hitter Foundation-linked fundraising page for Lt.   
   Alkonis said late Monday U.S. time that “domestic political interference   
   is highly suspected—information has been revealed that the son-in-law of   
   one of the victims works at the same office that prosecuted Lt. Alkonis.”   
      
   “One of the victim’s daughters is an attorney who represented all of the   
   victims and refused to accept any letters of apology by Lt. Alkonis as   
   customary under Japanese law, which directly resulted in the dismissal of   
   his appeal and request for a suspended sentence,” it claimed.   
      
   https://nypost.com/2022/07/26/navy-lieutenant-sentenced-in-japan-causes-   
   outcry-among-family-us-lawmakers/   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)