Letter to Michael Horowitz, Inspector General of the Department of Justice - Pascrell Demands Investigation Into Dropped Charges Against Turkish President's Bodyguards

Letter

Dear Mr. Horowitz:

In light of reports of the hazy circumstances surrounding dropped charges against several members of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's security team, I urge you to conduct an internal investigation bringing to light the facts of this case. Members of President Erdoğan's security team can be seen on recorded video violently assaulting peaceful protesters in Washington, D.C.

On May 16, 2017, American citizens and legal residents gathered lawfully and peacefully across the street from the Turkish Chief of Mission Residence protesting President Erdoğan and his administration. It is well documented that several members of President Erdoğan's security detail then physically assaulted several of the protesters, leaving many of them bloodied and badly injured. These actions are unacceptable in any circumstances; they represent an affront to our American values and core democratic freedoms of free speech and peaceful assembly.

In the wake of this incident, the United States House of Representatives unanimously passed H. Res. 354, a resolution condemning the violence against the protesters and calling for the perpetrators to be brought to justice. Initially, twelve members of President Erdoğan's security forces were charged in connection with these brutal attacks. A federal grand jury indicted three more later in 2017.

However, these positive steps toward justice were undone in November 2017, when charges against four members of President Erdoğan's security detail were dropped. The Wall Street Journal is reporting today that charges against seven others, including the head of President Erdoğan's security team, were dropped on February 14, 2018.[1] This happened one day before former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson flew to Ankara to meet with President Erdoğan.

According to the Journal report, United States officials claim that no political pressure was made by the Trump Administration to federal prosecutors to drop the charges. However, the same report indicates that Tillerson referenced the decision to drop charges as an example of how the United States tried to placate President Erdoğan's grievances in private talks. This detail was never announced or publicized.

The rule of law must prevail over politics in the United States of America. The fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution of free speech and peaceful assembly were undermined by members of the Turkish President's security team aggressive and unprecedented attacks. Justice must be served for those who were brutally attacked, which included a constituent of mine who was choked by one of the bodyguards. For these reasons, I urge you to initiate a thorough investigation into the reasons behind the charges being dropped and make public any documents and supporting evidence that you may discover. Thank you for your attention and expediency to this issue of national concern.

Sincerely,

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