Today, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) issued a statement on the one-year anniversary of Pastor Andrew Brunson’s release from Turkish custody. Throughout 2018, Senator Tillis worked to help secure the release of Pastor Brunson, who was facing an effective life sentence in Turkey, accused of crimes he did not commit.
Senator Tillis has also invited Pastor Brunson to deliver the opening prayer in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday to mark the anniversary. In February, Senator Tillis welcomed Pastor Andrew Brunson and Norine Brunson as his guests to the State of the Union.
Watch video of Andrew and Norine Brunson HERE.
“One year ago, our prayers were answered when Pastor Andrew Brunson was finally released by the Turkish government after being wrongfully detained for crimes he did not commit. I was proud to work with President Trump, the State Department, and my colleagues, including Senators Lankford, Shaheen, and Graham in applying pressure on the Turkish government and relentlessly advocating for Pastor Brunson’s release.
“When I first met Pastor Brunson in a Turkish prison, he was concerned that the American government and people would accept the fraudulent charges against him and forget about him. We didn’t let that happen, and Pastor Brunson and his family demonstrated incredible courage and unwavering faith throughout their personal ordeal.
“It was an honor to invite Pastor Brunson to deliver the opening prayer in the United States Senate to mark the one-year anniversary of his return back home, and I look forward to welcoming him to our nation’s capital this week.”
Background:
In March 2018, Senator Tillis visited Pastor Brunson in a Turkish prison where he was awaiting trial. Tillis returned three weeks later for the first hearing of the trial. On April 20th, Senator Tillis led a bipartisan letter signed by 71 senators to President Erdogan calling for Brunson’s release and Tillis spoke on the Senate floor nearly every week the Senate was in session to call for his release and bring attention to his plight. Senator Tillis took legislative action to apply pressure on Turkey, working on a bipartisan basis to secure language in the FY19 NDAA that would effectively delay the transfer of F-35s to Turkey. The Turkish Government finally released Pastor Brunson on October 12, 2018.
Senator Tillis has also invited Pastor Brunson to deliver the opening prayer in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday to mark the anniversary. In February, Senator Tillis welcomed Pastor Andrew Brunson and Norine Brunson as his guests to the State of the Union.
Watch video of Andrew and Norine Brunson HERE.
“One year ago, our prayers were answered when Pastor Andrew Brunson was finally released by the Turkish government after being wrongfully detained for crimes he did not commit. I was proud to work with President Trump, the State Department, and my colleagues, including Senators Lankford, Shaheen, and Graham in applying pressure on the Turkish government and relentlessly advocating for Pastor Brunson’s release.
“When I first met Pastor Brunson in a Turkish prison, he was concerned that the American government and people would accept the fraudulent charges against him and forget about him. We didn’t let that happen, and Pastor Brunson and his family demonstrated incredible courage and unwavering faith throughout their personal ordeal.
“It was an honor to invite Pastor Brunson to deliver the opening prayer in the United States Senate to mark the one-year anniversary of his return back home, and I look forward to welcoming him to our nation’s capital this week.”
Background:
In March 2018, Senator Tillis visited Pastor Brunson in a Turkish prison where he was awaiting trial. Tillis returned three weeks later for the first hearing of the trial. On April 20th, Senator Tillis led a bipartisan letter signed by 71 senators to President Erdogan calling for Brunson’s release and Tillis spoke on the Senate floor nearly every week the Senate was in session to call for his release and bring attention to his plight. Senator Tillis took legislative action to apply pressure on Turkey, working on a bipartisan basis to secure language in the FY19 NDAA that would effectively delay the transfer of F-35s to Turkey. The Turkish Government finally released Pastor Brunson on October 12, 2018.
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