RELIGION/SANCTIONS/TURKEY/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “President Trump threatened Turkey with sanctions unless it releases detained U.S. pastor Andrew Brunson, who has been held for nearly two years in a case that has strained relations between the two countries. Mr. Trump’s threat, issued in a Twitter message Thursday [7-26-18] morning, came a day after Turkish authorities transferred the evangelical pastor from prison to house arrest. Turkish prosecutors accuse Mr. Brunson of aiding a failed military coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a charge the pastor denies. U.S. officials say the case is politically motivated. If convicted, Mr. Brunson faces up to 35 years in prison…Earlier Thursday, Vice President Michael Pence said the U.S. was considering sanctions to punish Turkey for detaining Mr. Brunson, in a speech at a ministerial on religious freedom at the State Department. He said the move from jail to house arrest Wednesday [7-25-18] was a welcome first step, but ‘not good enough.’ Officials at the Turkish Embassy in Washington didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Turkish officials have said Mr. Brunson was transferred for health reasons, but U.S. officials are hopeful the move could indicate authorities are moving toward a speedy resolution of the case.”
–Jessica Donati, “Trump Warns Turkey of Sanctions Over Detention of Pastor Andrew Brunson,” The Wall Street Journal, July 26, 2018 12:59 pm