Ohio Senator JD Vance has stepped up to his foreign policy efforts — a diplomatic quagmire involving two brothers from his state, who face a four-month prison sentence in Dubai for drinking on a yacht.
Joseph Lopez, an Air Force veteran and father, and his brother Joshua were arrested in June for the offense, which is illegal in the United Arab Emirates.
The case has taken a complex turn with allegations that the brothers were drugged and robbed by scammers the same night as their arrest.
Radha Stirling, CEO of human rights organization Detained in Dubai, is advocating for the Lopez brothers and has called on U.S. lawmakers, including Sen. Vance, for assistance.
“Sen. Vance’s office has been in constant communication with the State Department, the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in the United States and the constituents’ family,” Vance spokesperson Parker Magid told Fox News Digital. “Sen. Vance is monitoring the as-yet-unresolved legal proceedings carefully.”
The State Department has acknowledged the arrests but maintains a cautious stance.
“We take our role in assisting U.S. citizens abroad seriously and are monitoring the situation,” a spokesperson stated, emphasizing that U.S. citizens are subject to local laws when abroad.
The incident started over strict laws in the UAE, where public drunkenness can result in hefty jail sentences and substantial fines. The State Department currently has a Level 2 travel advisory for the UAE due to terrorism threats.
Stirling has called for increased travel warnings to the UAE, stating, “Not only will they be robbed and extorted, but they’ll usually end up in prison too.”
“Sen. Vance’s office has been in constant communication with the State Department, the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in the United States and the constituents’ family,” Vance spokesperson Parker Magid told Fox News. “Sen. Vance is monitoring the as-yet-unresolved legal proceedings carefully.”