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Turkish President: Trump Apologized for Indictments Against Guards Who Beat Protesters

HeadlineSep 20, 2017

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says President Donald Trump called him last week to apologize, after a grand jury indicted 15 members of Erdogan’s security detail on felony charges for attacking a group of peaceful protesters in Washington, D.C., last May. Video from the scene shows President Erdogan looking on during the assault outside the Turkish ambassador’s residence, which came just after Erdogan was welcomed to the White House by President Trump. This is Erdogan speaking with ”PBS NewsHour.”

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan: “I’m very sorry about that. Actually, President Trump called me about a week ago about this issue. He said that he was sorry, and he told me that he was going to follow up on this issue when we come to the United States within the framework of an official visit. The protesters were insulting us, and they were screaming and shouting. The police failed to intervene properly.”

It’s not clear if Erdogan gave the order for the attack, which left nine anti-Erdogan protesters hospitalized.

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