U.S. officials have dropped federal assault charges against 11 Turkish security officers who were involved in an attack on peaceful protesters outside the Turkish ambassador’s residence in May, the latest development in an almost yearlong saga spanning the realms of local law enforcement and international diplomacy.
Motions to dismiss charges against four members in Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s security team were filed in November and seven others in February. But the dismissals were first revealed late Wednesday and reported by The Wall Street Journal and the Turkish newspaper the Daily Sabah.
The Office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia confirmed in an email Thursday that the charges had been dropped but declined to say why.
Assault charges are still pending for four members of Mr. Erdogan’s security team who were videotaped by several bystanders as they punched, kicked and choked pro-Kurdish demonstrators. Nine people were hospitalized, and a police officer was wounded during the attack.
“The [Trump] administration should aggressively pursue remaining charges against the security forces responsible for these unprovoked attacks,” Rep. Ed Royce, California Republican and chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a statement.
On Thursday evening, democratic representative for New Jersey Bill Pascrell, Jr. called for the Department of Justice to investigate and offer more details in the reasons behind dropping the charges against the security officials.
“In light of reports of the hazy circumstances surrounding dropped charges against several members of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s security team, I urge you to conduct an internal investigation bringing to light the facts of this case,” he said in a statement.
“For these reasons, I urge you to initiate a thorough investigation into the reasons behind the charges being dropped and make public any documents and supporting evidence that you may discover.”
The attackers were identified by comparing video images with visas and passports — a coordinated effort among the Metropolitan Police Department, the Secret Service, the State Department and the U.S. attorney for the District.
Mr. Erdogan’s entire security detail left the country before charges could be brought against them.
Two Canadian citizens were identified by Metropolitan Police as being involved in beating protesters, and their warrants are still outstanding.
Two U.S. citizens, Sinan Narin and Eyup Yildirim, were arrested in June and pleaded guilty in December to felony assault. They are awaiting sentencing in D.C. Superior Court.
On Thursday, victims of the attack expressed disappointment and outrage upon learning that the Turkish security officers were cleared of wrongdoing.
Mehmet Tankan, one of the demonstrators who was attacked by at least four of Mr. Erodogan’s security detail, said the latest news makes him feel unsafe in the U.S.
“Nothing happened to them,” he said. “If they come to the U.S. again, they will kill someone.”
Four officers whose charges were dropped — Turgut Akar, Harrettin Eren, Ismail Ergunduz and Mustafa Murat Sumercan — had been identified in an indictment as having surrounded, kicked and punched Mr. Tankan. They were further charged with bias for assaulting Mr. Tankan based on actual or perceived ethnicity and political affiliation.
Others cleared of charges include Mr. Erdogan’s security chief, Muhsin Kose, and security officers Tugay Erkan, Feride Kayasan, Gokhan Yildirim, Hamza Yurteri, Lufu Kutluca and Yusuf Ayar.
Arrest warrants remain for four security personnel — Ismail Dalkiran, Ahmet Karabay, Mehmet Sarman and Servet Erkan.
Ceren Borazan, who Mr. Dalkiran is accused of choking and throwing to the ground, expressed disappointment Thursday.
“The security personnel committed a crime. There was enough evidence to charge them — lots of video — disappointing that the U.S. has dropped charges,” Ms. Borazan said. “I was beaten and injured here on American soil while exercising my First Amendment rights.”
Kevin Donahue, deputy mayor for public safety and justice, said the mayor’s office is disappointed with the U.S. attorney’s decision.
“As the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., has a unique role in ensuring the safety of anyone that comes here to express their First Amendment rights,” Mr. Donahue said in a statement. “In the case of the Turkish president’s bodyguards brutally assaulting a group of peaceful protestors, we took immediate action to hold those individuals accountable for their attack. Our priority is making sure anyone expressing their right to assemble and speech is kept safe.”
Amy, who asked that her real name not be used for fear of repercussion, was present when fighting broke out but wasn’t injured. She told The Washington Times that clearing the Turkish men of wrongdoing sends a message that their actions are acceptable.
“I think this is an invitation for Erdogan to continue its oppressive policies both in Turkey and abroad,” she said. “President Trump should not award dictators like Erdogan for political gains.”
The Trump administration and the Erdogan government already had strained relations over the U.S. decision to arm Syrian Kurds in the fight against the Islamic State. Turkey designates the U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish YPG forces as terrorists who are aligned with the Kurdistan’s Workers Party or PKK.
Turkish officials maintain that the D.C. protesters in May were affiliated with the PKK and posed a security threat to Mr. Erdogan.
Metropolitan Police Chief Peter Newsham said at a press conference in June that the pro-Kurdish demonstrators were peaceful and exercising their First Amendment rights to assemble, and that police had no indication they were terrorists.
Aram Suren Hamparian, the executive director of the Amernian National Committee of America, who witnessed the fighting take place but wasn’t injured at the event, said the news was “sad, but not surprising.”
“This whole episode confirms what we’ve always know: Ankara gets a free pass in D.C. for genocide, invasion, abuse, and even brazenly open attacks on American citizens on U.S. soil. It’s shameful.”
• Laura Kelly can be reached at lkelly@washingtontimes.com.
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