When the judge insisted Lai is not a political prisoner but ‘facing criminal charges,’ Lai responded, ‘You can have your opinion, and I can have mine.’

Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai called himself a “political prisoner” during court proceedings this week, as the Chinese city advances a case that furthers the Chinese Communist Party’s persecution of one of its most internationally prominent critics.

Lai, 77, has been imprisoned for over 1,500 days, starting when the Chinese Communist Party escalated its crackdown on the city. He is on trial under the Hong Kong national security law for “collusion with foreign forces” and publishing “seditious material.”

Beijing eviscerated Hong Kong’s previous semi-autonomous status with that law, and the global financial hub’s authorities are widely understood to implement the party’s orders. But Hong Kong officials continue to position their city as friendly to international business and downplay its loss of autonomy.

Lai, who is currently undergoing cross-examination, made the declaration about the transparently political nature of the charges on February 11. The prosecution had accused him of lying about articles he wrote for the Apple Daily, a newspaper that he owned. But Lai said that he would not lie in court, as that would be illegal.

“Do you think I would turn something legal into something illegal just to get myself convicted? That would mean I am not only a political prisoner but also an idiot,” he said, according to a transcript posted to a website run by his supporters.

At that point, the judge overseeing the trial, Esther Toh, interjected. “You are not a political prisoner. You are facing criminal charges in this court.”

Lai responded: “You can have your opinion, and I can have mine.”

According to the transcript, Toh raised her voice after an initial back and forth. “Mr. Lai! Are you trying to bring politics into the courtroom? You are not allowed to do that.”

He responded, smiling: “I see, I see.”

Toh is included on a list of judges on whom some members of Congress want to impose sanctions for their role in the squelching of the Hong Kong pro-democracy movement. The Hong Kong Sanctions Act would subject judges and prosecutors to Global Magnitsky Sanctions.

Last week, the State Department issued a statement condemning Beijing’s continued persecution of Lai, calling on Hong Kong to “immediately and unconditionally release” him.

Shortly after his election in November, President Trump told radio show host Hugh Hewitt that “one hundred percent, I’ll get him out” and that Lai will “be so easy to get out.”