Piper Alkonis Brownell

Working for the release of my older brother, #LtRidgeAlkonis. @BringRidgeHome

[Piper Alkonis Brownell @pipersheab]

I cast my vote for #ShortyAwards Audience Honors! Help us vote and share daily through April 30th! https://t.co/v10qW7rzJq

[Andrew Eubanks @EubanksAndrew]

Let's get something straight--

No one is taking anything away from the two innocent Japanese citizens who lost their lives in the Alkonis accident. It was a tragedy. It happened in May 2021 and the Alkonis family did nothing for over a year other than apologize profusely, cooperate, and pay a record cultural condolence payment to the victims' family.

They didn't talk to the media for over a year. All they did was express sorrow for the victims and condolences to the affected family.

Now, over 2.5 years later, people want to perpetuate the tragedy by imprisoning and ruining the career of an exemplary naval officer and incredible human being for a medical episode, a true accident. That's not justice, and it doesn't do anything to heal anyone's pain.

In the trial, when the victims' family members were pleading for "the harshest possible penalty," Alkonis was testifying about how he prays every day for the victims and their families.

Alkonis has spent most of his adult life living in Japan. He loves Japan. His shipmates describe him as an incredible ambassador for the US-Japan alliance, always helping fellow service members understand and respect Japanese culture.

If he, or his wife, had any inkling that something tragic was going to happen, that someone would get hurt, they wouldn't have been in the car. But they didn't know. And tragically people were hurt--in an accident.

Alkonis, his family, and his supporters mourn the loss of innocent life.

But we will not accept brutal retribution and punishment for something that wasn't a crime and that wasn't done maliciously.

[Andrew Eubanks @EubanksAndrew]

What kind of officer was #LtRidgeAlkonis?

Read thread 👇🏼 to see what his Commanding Officers wrote about him—ranked #1 at every rank.

“BEST WARFARE TACTICS INSTRUCTOR ON MY STAFF…DEEP SELECT…SCREEN FOR EARLY COMMAND!”

[Andrew Eubanks @EubanksAndrew]

In the military's final summary report on the Ridge Alkonis case, the Navy stated:

"No misconduct or wrongdoing is being alleged from any U.S. military or U.S. civilian authorities."

"The incident does not warrant promotion delay or removal, and LT Alkonis should be allowed to promote as soon as possible."

It's obvious that @SECNAV and RADM Carl Lahti chose to remove Alkonis's promotion out of petty retribution for the political & media attention garnered by the Alkonis case.

[BringRidgeHome @BringRidgeHome]

The @USNavy is unjustly punishing LT Ridge Alkonis because the @SECNAV and flag officers didn’t like the media and political attention Alkonis garnered.

[Brittany Alkonis @BrittanyAlkonis]

To all military spouses, your military member’s career will be affected by everything you do and say. #LtRidgeAlkonis is being punished for MY advocacy and nothing more.

@SecDef @SECNAV shame on you.

@POTUS your military leaders are failing your service members.

[Andrew Eubanks @EubanksAndrew]

The @USNavy has denied Ridge Alkonis his promotion to LCDR.

Alkonis was selected and scheduled to be promoted on Oct 1, 2021; however it was put on hold while the legal case in Japan played out.

After the court case completed in 2022, Alkonis’s chain-of-command (including the three-star commander of 7th Fleet) recommended that Alkonis’s promotion be restored.

In May 2023, RADM Carl Lahti (two-star commander of @CNFJ) then decided to submit a separate negative endorsement of Alkonis's promotion.

Take a look at the third paragraph of RADM Lahti’s endorsement—a lengthy statement about the public’s opinions of the Alkonis case and the political support around Alkonis.

“The outcome of this accident divided a portion of the Navy community in Yokosuka, and is a matter of wide discussion on multiple social media platforms both in and out of Japan.”

How does this statement have anything to do with Alkonis being deserving of promotion, or his ability to serve as an O-4??

It’s apparent that Lahti and @SECNAV have abused their power by using personal political prejudices to punish Alkonis for unwanted media attention around the Alkonis case.

[Andrew Eubanks @EubanksAndrew]

In August 2022, I informed the @DoD_IG that the #USNavy knowingly mislead Congress for 14-months about LT Ridge Alkonis’s case in Japan.

I provided evidence and willing witnesses.

The DoD Inspector General ignored my complaint. Never contacted witnesses. No investigation.

[Andrew Eubanks @EubanksAndrew]

Active-duty Lieutenant Ridge Alkonis was transferred to the U.S. from Japan three weeks ago today.

In that time, two Congressmen have visited him in prison.

Yet no one from the @USNavy has even bothered to call or visit.

[Wall Street Journal Opinion @WSJopinion]

A presidential dispensation for Lt. Alkonis would be a useful message to sailors and airmen abroad pondering whether they are living one lapse away from ruin.
https://t.co/QTAAfTEggp

[Bring Our Families Home Campaign @BOFHcampaign]

Today marks 5 years since @freepaulwhelan was wrongfully detained in Russia.

He was left behind in at least two prisoner exchanges between the US and Russia, and reported concerns for his own safety.

We need @POTUS to be proactive, not reactive to #BringThemHome healthy/alive.

[Andrew Eubanks @EubanksAndrew]

Pardon Lt. Ridge Alkonis! https://t.co/JrSUiCdR2r

[Andrew Eubanks @EubanksAndrew]

In today’s @japantimes:

“In Japan, interrogations by police and prosecutors are conducted in closed rooms without the presence of defense lawyers, which has resulted in a number of coerced confessions and wrongful prosecutions of innocent individuals.”

https://t.co/QwEJ9iA7Dz

[Andrew Eubanks @EubanksAndrew]

Literally what I’ve been trying to explain to people for 2.5 years about the @BringRidgeHome case:

[Bring Eyvin Home! @BringEyvinHome]

Eyvin was reunited with his father & brothers! What an incredibly, unforgettable day! So much love!

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who advocated & fought so hard for so many months to make this unforgettable day a reality! We will never be able to thank you enough. 🙏🙏🙏

[Brittany Alkonis @BrittanyAlkonis]

The fire community has been showing up for @BringRidgeHome from day one & yesterday @LACoFDPIO, @LAFD and local @IAFFofficial took it to the next level!

Thank you for helping us show #LTRidgeAlkonis just how loved he is.

@POTUS let’s bring an end to the injustice today.

[Brittany Alkonis @BrittanyAlkonis]

This is the closest they’re getting to daddy this Christmas.

I’m grateful to all those that showed up to show Ridge and all the other inmates at MDC LA some holiday love!

@POTUS @JakeSullivan46 This is not home. Finish the job. @BringRidgeHome

[Montel Williams @Montel_Williams]

We are asking too much of our military families, especially these 3 kids.

@POTUS has the power to fix this.

[Jonathan Franks @jonfranks]

@Acosta @BarakRavid @themattfriend @RepGonzalez @NormEisen @RonBrownstein @ChuckRocha @Shermichael_ @aarondmiller2 @julianzelizer @jonsarlin @NoradSanta Catch @BrittanyAlkonis talking to @Acosta ~ 4:40 pm ET on @cnn about her husband,@BringRidgeHome.

#LtRidgeAlkonis has spent his entire adult life serving BOTH USA & JP. He shouldn’t be sitting in Federal lockup as a prisoner of the U.S.-Japan alliance… And yet here we are.

[Andrew Eubanks @EubanksAndrew]

🎄🚨RIGHT NOW🚨🎄

@BrittanyAlkonis and family, friends, supporters are gathering outside MDC-LA, where LT Ridge Alkonis is detained, for a Christmas party.

Ridge can see the party from the prison, and we’re hoping to bring some holiday cheer to him!