Biden’s pick for ambassador to Japan promises to support Nissan executive’s release

U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., is backing the nomination of Democrat and former Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel as the next ambassador to Japan. 

Hagerty, the previous ambassador to Japan, says Emanuel gave him his word that he’ll support democratic rule in Taiwan, and that he will work to get American citizens released from Japan’s criminal justice system.

Hagerty spoke specifically about ex-Nissan executive Greg Kelly, who has been held in Japan for three years on accusations of financial misconduct. Japanese prosecutors say he worked to hide how much money Nissan’s now-former chairman, Carlos Ghosn, was paid. Kelly denies those claims. 

“Japan has an outdated judicial system that places that nation at a constant competitive disadvantage,” Hagerty said. “We have American citizens, today a Tennessee citizen, who are caught in Japanese judicial system suffering from unfair and barbaric treatment in the so-called hostage justice system of Japan.”

President Joe Biden nominated Emanuel for the job. Some Democrats oppose the nomination because of Emanuel’s handling of Laquan McDonald’s case. McDonald was shot and killed by police in 2014.