Mike Lee calls out Defense Department for halting pay of Navy officer jailed in Japan
Fox News
Sen. Mike Lee is calling on Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to grant an exemption to continue paying Navy Lt. Ridge Alkonis during his three-year prison sentence in Japan.
Lee's 23-minute speech comes as the Defense Department said it will deny a plea from Alkonis to extend his pay and allowances while he serves his prison term in Japan, a move Lee said would cause the officer's wife and their children, who are still in Japan, to be "kicked to the curb" as Christmas approaches. Michael Lee is a writer at Fox News. Follow him on Twitter @UAMichaelLee
Alkonis, who is based out of Yokosuka Naval Base, was convicted of negligent driving by Japanese courts in October 2021 after he was involved in a vehicle accident that year that resulted in the deaths of two people.