US sanctions Turkish officials over American pastor’s arrest

The Trump administration moved Wednesday to put economic sanctions on officials in Turkey over the imprisonment of American Andrew Brunson.

“Pastor Brunson’s unjust detention and continued prosecution by Turkish officials is simply unacceptable,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said. The sanctions target Turkish Minister of Justice Abdulhamit Gul and Minister of Interior Suleyman Soylu.

Turkey accused Brunson, arrested in 2016, of being a spy.