Alan Lowenthal: “Today, I am here again, once more, to speak about an American citizen, Michael Nguyen, who is currently in prison in…”

“Today, I am here again, once more, to speak about an American citizen, Michael Nguyen, who is currently in prison in Vietnam on vague allegations and charges. I thank my colleague, Representative Katie Porter, for her tireless advocacy on this matter, and the men and women at the State Department, including Ambassador Dan Kritenbrink, for their work and continued support. It has been over a year since Michael was arbitrarily detained, hastily tried, and harshly imprisoned on claims that he plotted to overthrow the Government of Vietnam, which no one--and I repeat, no one--has seen any evidence of. Earlier this year, Michael was convicted, along with two Vietnamese men, after a half-day trial. Michael was sentenced to 12 years in prison, which is longer than the two Vietnamese men received for the same charges. Michael's family has struggled emotionally and financially with his imprisonment. His wife and four daughters only want him to come home. He is currently appealing the length of his sentence. As a co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Vietnam, I call upon the Vietnamese Government to do the right thing: quickly close this case and return Michael back to the United States and to his family. ____________________”