Hong Kong’s Jimmy Lai failed to get Pence and Pompeo to subscribe to Apple Daily

Lai, 76, has denied two charges of conspiring to collusion with foreign forces under the 2020 national security law, as well as a third charge of conspiring to print and distribute seditious publications in violation of colonial-era legislation.

The founder of the now-defunct tabloid Apple Daily previously detailed his relationships with politicians and activists in the United States, Britain and Taiwan, but denied prosecutors’ allegations that he sought to use his extensive influence network to influence foreign policy aimed at Beijing and China to influence Hong Kong in his favor.

Lai claimed he never forced his newspaper to draw up a Washington sanctions list after then-US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in July 2020 that paved the way for punitive measures against officials in Beijing and Hong Kong.

Regarding the anti-government protests in 2019, Lai stressed that he opposed violence and claimed that he was committed to resisting Beijing through peaceful demonstrations.

Some level of violence is “inevitable,” he said, pointing to the police’s handling of the protests. He also denied that his comments had incited hatred against the authorities.

The defense is expected to ask Lai further questions about his articles and tweets he posted on his social media account in 2020, followed by inquiries into his work communications with former employees.

The high-profile trial is being heard by three Supreme Court justices, all hand-picked by the city leader to decide national security cases in the absence of a jury.

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