Chabot, Connolly, Sessions, Cohen Statement on Release of Pastor Brunson

Press Release

U.S. Representatives Steve Chabot (R-Ohio), Gerald Connolly (D-Va.), Pete Sessions (R-Texas) and Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), Co-Chairs of the Caucus on US-Turkish Relations and Turkish Americans, made the following statement about the release of Pastor Andrew Brunson:

"The co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on U.S.-Turkey Relations and Turkish Americans commend the end of Pastor Andrew Brunson's unjust detention in Turkey. Pastor Brunson should never have been imprisoned in the first place. While we welcome this development in the U.S.-Turkey relationship, we must remember the other American citizens, local employees of the U.S. State Department, and Turkish citizens who remain wrongfully imprisoned in Turkey. The co-chairs continue to advocate for their release as well."

Background:

Pastor Andrew Brunson is a United States citizen from South Carolina and lived in Turkey for 23 years. At the time of his arrest on October 7, 2016, he was pastor of Izmir Resurrection Church in Izmir, Turkey. He was detained in Turkey for two years and was released from prison on October 12, 2018.

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