Federal prosecutors have dropped charges against 11 of the 15 members of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s security detail who were indicted after brutally beating demonstrators while in Washington, D.C., last year, according to a report Thursday.
The charges against Erodgan’s security team came after a violent clash against activists that were protesting the Turkish presidents visit to the Washington outside the Turkish ambassador’s residence.
Videos quickly surfaced of the violent scene showing the security detail punching and kicking demonstrators as Washington police and U.S. Secret Service officers attempted to break them up.
According to the Wall Street Journal, at least nine protesters were hospitalized following the incident. One police officer and two Secret Service members were also hurt during the clash.
Charges against 7 members of Erdogan’s security team were dropped one day before former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson flew to Turkey to meet Erdogan and discuss improving ties, the WSJ reports.
Government officials told the WSJ that no one pressured prosecutors to dismiss charges for political reasons.
