WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., today released the following statement on the announcement that Greg Kelly, a former Nissan executive and American citizen, received a verdict in Japanese court: 

“I am relieved that this awful nightmare for Mr. Kelly appears to be near an end. That said, the U.S. should always be frank with our friends and our allies, including Japan. This episode has exposed to the world the Japanese system of hostage justice. Greg Kelly has essentially been held against his will on baseless charges for three years. This is unbecoming of a 21st-century democracy. I send my congratulations and appreciation to everyone who has helped to bring Mr. Kelly home. I know that he is looking forward to being reunited with his family in the U.S.”

Senator Wicker has been a vocal advocate for Mr. Kelly since he was lured to Japan under false pretenses in November 2018. Among other initiatives, Wicker shared an op-ed and floor speech calling for the release of Mr. Kelly.