GOP senator wears shirt honoring Otto Warmbier at Korean DMZ

Sen. Rob PortmanRobert (Rob) Jones PortmanGOP senator wears shirt honoring Otto Warmbier at Korean DMZ On The Money: Conservatives rally behind Moore for Fed | White House interviewing other candidates | Trump, Dems spar on Tax Day | Budget watchdogs bemoan ‘debt denialism’ The Hill’s Morning Report – Waiting on Mueller: Answers come on Thursday MORE (R-Ohio) wore a t-shirt honoring Otto Warmbier during his trip this week to the Demilitarized Zone on the Korean Peninsula.

Portman was photographed wearing a grey t-shirt emblazoned with “Otto” in capital letters, over an American flag.

“I could not help but think of Otto Warmbier and his family,” Portman said in a statement released by his office. “Otto has been at the front of my mind while I’ve been here, and I’ve made clear to South Korean government officials that we must never forget him.”

Remembering Otto Warmbier while visiting the demilitarized zone. His courage and memory will never be forgotten. As our dialogue w/ #NorthKorea continues, it’s important we address its human rights abuses & ensure there is real change. https://t.co/okQvJV400O pic.twitter.com/Eh2WQsSD7g

— Rob Portman (@senrobportman) April 17, 2019

Warmbier, an American college student, was imprisoned in North Korea for 15 months and during his detention suffered serious brain damage. He was arrested in North Korea for allegedly trying to steal a painting in a hotel during a trip to the country.

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He died in June 2017 at the age of 22, shortly after being returned to the U.S.

Portman, Warmbier’s home state senator, worked with the family to secure his return and accompanied the University of Virginia student on the last portion of his trip home.

North Korean officials have said Warmbier’s brain damage was the result of botulism.

President TrumpDonald John TrumpHouse Dems demand Barr cancel ‘inappropriate’ press conference on Mueller report DOJ plans to release ‘lightly redacted’ version of Mueller report Thursday: WaPo Nadler accuses Barr of ‘unprecedented steps’ to ‘spin’ Mueller report MORE initially said that Warmbier had been “tortured beyond belief” while imprisoned in North Korea. But Trump later sparked controversy when he questioned whether North Korean leader Kim Jong Un knew about the American’s treatment.

Portman said in his statement that talks with Pyongyang “must be about North Korea’s human rights abuses and how they must change.” 

He said he also met with a North Korean defector to learn more about human rights abuses in that country.