The ruling passed on Oct. 12 over a 3 year, 1 1/2 month sentence on Brunson, who had been charged with unsubstantiated terrorism offenses by Turkey. The court said he would not serve any further time because he had already been detained since October 2016.
The move could help towards healing ties between Ankara and Washington—both NATO allies. U.S. officials, including the president, have been applying increasing pressure on Turkey to free Brunson.
“PASTOR BRUNSON JUST RELEASED. WILL BE HOME SOON!” Trump wrote.
At around 11 a.m. ET, the president said he was still trying to secure the release.
Witnesses said Brunson wept as the decision was announced. Before the judge’s ruling, the pastor told the court, “I am an innocent man. I love Jesus, I love Turkey.”
Earlier, witnesses told the court that testimonies attributed to them against the pastor were inaccurate, heightening expectations that Brunson would be released and returned to the United States.
Brunson appeared in the courtroom in the western coastal town of Aliaga wearing a black suit, white shirt, and red tie. His wife, Norine, looked on from the visitors’ seating area as he listened to testimony from defense and prosecution witnesses.
“I do not understand how this is related to me,” Brunson said after the judge questioned one of a series of witnesses, saying the judge was asking the witness about incidents Brunson was not involved in.
The Turkish lira changed little on the day. It had firmed 3 percent on Thursday on expectations that he would be released. It stood at 5.910 at 1336 GMT.