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Karen DeYoung
Associate Editor and Senior Correspondent for National Security
Carol D. Leonnig
A national investigative journalist focused on the White House and the government's responsibility
The Trump administration is optimistic about the possibility that an American cleric detained for two years in Turkey on spying and terrorism charges will be released soon after a hearing Friday, according to US officials and relatives of the case.
As part of a negotiated deal to lift US sanctions – both threatened and enforced – against Turkey, the charges against Reverend Andrew Brunson must be reduced to allow him to be punished. sentenced to a sentence already served, or to serve any remaining sentence. in the United States.
The deal, part of which was negotiated at last month's UN General Assembly meeting, which is attended by President Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, will either lead to immediate release of Brunson Friday, either to his release in a few days, officials said the condition of anonymity to discuss the arrangement still secret.
The officials, however, remained cautious in the light of an agreement that collapsed last summer, with both parties blaming each other for acting in bad faith.
In a speech Wednesday evening, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said, "I really hope that Pastor Brunson will soon be reinstated – he and his wife will be able to return to the United States. President Trump has focused on it, the administration has focused on it, and we hope very much that we will see a good result in too short a time. "
Brunson's case has been a well-known cause for Trump's evangelical political base, with Vice President Pence in particular having particularly emphasized it.
Brunson, who has been living in Turkey for more than two decades, was arrested after suffering a coup attempt in 2016. He is accused, along with the Trump administration, of false accusations. The so-called brain of the coup, the Turkish religious Fethullah Gulen, is a permanent resident of the United States residing in Pennsylvania and a long-time political foe of Erdogan. The indictment against Brunson also accuses him of having contact with Kurdish separatists whom Turkey and the United States have described as terrorists.
After the failure of last summer's agreement, Trump imposed sanctions on two senior Turkish ministers and Erdogan returned the favor to senior US officials. Trump then allowed the doubling of US tariffs for steel and aluminum compared to Turkey.
Congress, where the anti-Turkey sentiment on the Brunson affair is high, passed a law freezing the sale of 100 F-35 aircraft to Turkey and leaving Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis – who opposed the freeze – until next month to prepare a report would affect the security of the United States and the defense industry.
A possible solution to the Brunson case also comes when the United States and Turkey have eased some of their differences over Syria and shared their concern over the disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi, Saudi dissident journalist, during his visit. at the consulate of Saudi Arabia in Istanbul. .
Turkish officials said they thought Khashoggi had been killed on the spot, possibly in a botched attempt by Saudi agents to kidnap and interrogate him. Trump expressed "concern," but the administration refused to directly accuse Riyadh, saying she was waiting for more information. Saudi Arabia denied any involvement in Khashoggi's disappearance and said he had left the consulate shortly after his arrival.
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