Turkey releases pastor Andrew Brunson

Published October 12, 2018 1:54pm ET



American pastor Andrew Brunson, who was swept up in a wave of arrests in the wake of a failed coup attempt in Turkey, was released on Friday, easing a major controversy between the United States and the NATO ally.

A judge ordered Brunson’s release as part of a reported deal in which President Trump will “ease economic pressure” on President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s country. Turkey is not dropping the case against Brunson. The prosecutor “demanded up to 10 years in prison for terror charges,” a pro-government outlet reported, but Brunson will be allowed to leave the country.

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