66 US senators sign letter calling on Turkey to release jailed pastor  

WASHINGTON – Reuters

Sixty-six U.S. senators signed a letter released on April 20 calling on Turkish authorities to release an American pastor on trial in Turkey on charges he is linked to the Gülen network.

Andrew Brunson, a Christian pastor who has lived in Turkey for more than two decades, was indicted on charges of helping the Gülen network, which is widely believed to have orchestrated the July 2016 failed coup attempt. Brunson faces up to 35 years in prison.

The letter, led by Republican Senator Thom Tillis, who represents Brunson's home state North Carolina, and Democrat Jeanne Shaheen, said the Senate backs efforts to strengthen cooperation between U.S. and Turkish law enforcement.

"However, we are deeply disturbed that the Turkish government has gone beyond legitimate action against the coup plotters to undermine Turkey's own rule of law and democratic traditions," it said.

Shaheen and Republican Senator James Lankford, who are members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said in a separate statement that they would push for sanctions against Turkish officials in an upcoming spending bill in response to Brunson's imprisonment.

U.S. President Donald Trump also voiced his support for Brunson on Twitter this week, writing, "They call him a spy, but I am more a spy than he is."

In their letter, the senators warned that unspecified measures might be necessary to ensure the Turkish government "respects the rights of law-abiding citizens" of the United States to be in Turkey without fear of prosecution.

Overall, the letter was signed by 43 Republicans and 23 Democrats.