ICC Note: The U.S government has demanded Turkey to drop the charges or acquit pastor Brunson who is being accused of espionage and terrorism. The victim faces up to 35 years in prison if found guilty, but he has denied any wrongdoing at a court hearing Monday in Turkey. The hearing was attended by the U.S. ambassador at-large for religious freedom, Sam Brownback.

4/19/2018 Turkey (Washington Post) – The Trump administration warned Turkey on Wednesday that it is considering punitive “consequences” if the NATO ally does not throw out the charges or acquit an American pastor accused of espionage and aiding terrorist groups.

Wess Mitchell, the top U.S. diplomat for Europe, said the charges against Andrew Brunson, 50, of North Carolina, were “laughable.”

“The Turks claim to have a high standard of justice, the indictment suggests otherwise,” Mitchell told the House Foreign Affairs Committee. “This is clearly an innocent man. We are watching to see if the Turks adhere to their stated standards of justice. If that does not happen, we are considering options for consequences.”

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