U.S. President Donald Trump will receive American pastor Andrew Brunson at the White House
U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday he will receive American pastor Andrew Brunson at the White House once he arrives in the country.
“So we have good news. Pastor Andrew Brunson is in the air, from Turkey. He is, I think, in good shape. He’ll be stopping, most likely, in Germany for a full check-up," Trump told reporters following the release of Brunson, who was sentenced in western Turkey over terror-related charges.
"And he’s going to be coming to the Oval Office, most likely on Saturday," he added, noting there was no deal made for his release.
A Turkish court sentenced the pastor to three years and 45 days in prison Friday, but he will not serve time in jail. The court credited his time spent in detention and ended his house arrest and travel ban.
Brunson was arrested on Dec. 9, 2016 on charges of being a member of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO). On July 25 of this year, citing Brunson's health problems, a court in the city of Izmir ordered him moved from jail to house arrest.
Brunson's charges include spying for the PKK -- listed as a terrorist group by both the U.S. and Turkey -- and FETO, the group behind the defeated coup attempt in Turkey of July 2016.
Turkey and the U.S. have faced rocky relations following Washington’s imposition of sanctions over Brunson's detention.
Political tensions between the two countries sparked worries in financial markets after Trump threatened to use economic pressure to secure Brunson's release.
The U.S. military is expected to fly American evangelical pastor Andrew Brunson back to the United States after a Turkish court ruled on Friday he could go free, U.S. officials told Reuters.One of the officials said that Brunson could return to the United States as soon as Friday. A Pentagon spokeswoman told Reuters that the expected plan involved flying Brunson through Germany on the way back to America but did not specify timing.American pastor en route home to US: lawyerTrump cites hard work in US pastor Brunson caseTurkish court rules to release US pastor Brunson
US military expected to fly freed American pastor from Turkey
American pastor Andrew Brunson is on a plane home to the United States after a Turkish court ruled he should be released, according to lawyer representing his family."The fact that he is now on a plane to the United States can only be viewed as a significant victory for Pastor Brunson and his family," said lawyer Jay Sekulow in a statement.Turkish court rules to release US pastor BrunsonA Turkish court ruled on Friday to release U.S. pastor Andrew Brunson from house arrest, sentencing him to three years in jail but saying he will not spend any more time in custody because of time already served.The court's decision to lift judicial controls meant that evangelical pastor Brunson, at the heart of a diplomatic spat between the two countries, could leave Turkey and return to the United States.The court passed a 3 years and 1-1/2 month sentence on Brunson.Video: Turkish court releases US pastor Andrew BrunsonTrump cites hard work in US pastor Brunson case
American pastor en route home to US: lawyer
U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said his administration was "working very hard" in the case of Andrew Brunson, shortly after a Turkish court ruled to release the U.S. evangelical Christian pastor."Working very hard on Pastor Brunson!" Trump wrote in a post on Twitter. He provided no further detail.He also said that he hopes Pastor Brunson to be safely back home soon.Working very hard on Pastor Brunson!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 12 Ekim 2018 My thoughts and prayers are with Pastor Brunson, and we hope to have him safely back home soon!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 12 Ekim 2018 Turkish court rules to release US pastor Brunson
Trump cites hard work in US pastor Brunson case