EDITOR'S NOTE, Monday, October 15, 7:51 a.m. EDT: President Donald Trump made a statement on Twitter asserting that there was no deal made with Turkey despite what NBC News previously reported. NBC News was a source that we used in our story. We have since removed all information obtained from them.
There was NO DEAL made with Turkey for the release and return of Pastor Andrew Brunson. I don’t make deals for hostages. There was, however, great appreciation on behalf of the United States, which will lead to good, perhaps great, relations between the United States & Turkey!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 13, 2018
The President has been informed that Turkey will likely release the North Carolina pastor Andrew Brunson, after almost two years of him being held in a Turkish jail.
The White House announced on Friday that Turkish authorities will allow for Brunson to return to the U.S. in the next several days.
The pastor was being held on charges of conspiring to overthrow the Turkish government and being a part of a terrorist group. It is expected that these charges will be dropped and the pastor will soon be released.
When Brunson was moved out of the Turkish prison and placed under house arrest in July, many people were hopeful that Brunson would be returned to the U.S. soon after.
Now, after several months under house arrest, the Turkish government has decided to release the pastor. According to Fox News, on October 12, Brunson stood before a Turkish court for a final hearing and it was decided that the pastor would be released and sentenced to time served.
The exact date of his return to the U.S. is not yet known, but President Trump has voiced on Twitter that Pastor Brunson will be home soon.
PASTOR BRUNSON JUST RELEASED. WILL BE HOME SOON!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 12, 2018
Photo courtesy: World Witness Facebook
