Tillis, others sign letter demanding release of NC pastor from Turkish prison
A bipartisan group of 66 senators, led by Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), sent a letter Friday to the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, demanding the release of wrongfully imprisoned American Pastor Andrew Brunson.
Posted — UpdatedThe Trump administration warned Turkey on Wednesday that it is considering punitive "consequences" if the NATO ally does not throw out the charges or acquit Brunson on charges of espionage and aiding terrorist groups.
Wess Mitchell, the top U.S. diplomat for Europe, said the charges against Brunson, 50, were "laughable."
Brunson, who faces up to 35 years in prison, denied any wrongdoing at a court hearing Monday in Aliaga, Turkey, that was attended by the U.S. ambassador at-large for religious freedom, Sam Brownback.
Brunson was arrested in the aftermath of a 2016 coup attempt in Turkey for alleged links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, as well as a network led by U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who is blamed by Turkey for the political unrest.
"I don't accept any of the allegations or accusations," the state-run Anadolu Agency quoted Brunson as telling the court.
"I did not engage in any illegal activity. I had no relations with anyone engaged in such activity," Brunson said. "I am a Christian pastor. I did not join an Islamic movement. Their aims and mine are different."
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