Officials familiar with the situation report that the White House and the Turkish government have reached a deal that will see detained US pastor Andrew Brunson released. He has been held for two years.
The White House doesn’t intend to publicly discuss the deal until it happens, fearing that it might endanger the deal. Effectively, Brunson will be released later this week in return for the US easing certain economic sanctions.
What is being reported, however, is that during Friday’s hearing, some of the charges against Brunson will be dropped, and that this will be enough for the court to let him go and leave the country.
Brunson has been held, like countless others in Turkey, on accusations of him being in league with banned cleric Fethullah Gulen. Turkey has accused Gulen of being behind a failed military coup, and has arrested thousands on claims of such connections.
