LaLota Applauds Parole of LT Ridge Alkonis, Calls for Action to Protect Soldiers Abroad

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Rep. Nick LaLota (R-Suffolk County), a Navy Veteran and member of the Armed Services Committee, released the following statement after Navy Lieutenant Ridge Alkonis was granted parole by the U.S. Parole Commission.

“While parole for LT Ridge Alkonis is long overdue, I am incredibly thankful the Commission came to the right decision today. I am thrilled that LT Alkonis has been finally reunited with his dedicated wife and loving children, who have been without him for far too long,” said LaLota. “Going forward, we must ensure our servicemembers abroad have the same legal protections as they do at home. But today, I am over the moon to see a family reunited and a good man set free.”

Background:

Since being sworn into office in January of 2023, LaLota has consistently called for the release of U.S. Navy Lt. Ridge Alkonis.

In December 2023, LaLota visited Lt. Alkonis in the Metropolitan Detention Center, Los Angeles following Alkonis’ return to the United States from Japan. Several days later, LaLota wrote a letter to the Chief U.S. Probation Officer calling on Lt. Alkonis to be paroled and released from prison.

In May, LaLota introduced the Safeguarding Our Forces Abroad (SOFA) Act, which would require the Secretary of Defense, at a rate of one percent per month, to reduce the number of Armed Forces stationed in a “covered nation” where a binding and enforceable Status of Forces Agreement is not in place.

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