ankara president tayyip erdogan suggest thursday turkey could free detain u.s. pastor unite state hand muslim cleric live pennsylvania ankara blame fail military coup last year idea washington appear dismiss turkey seek extradition fethullah gulen former ally erdogan whose supporters blame try overthrow erdogan government july 2016. gulen deny role coup attempt 250 people kill u.s. officials speak condition anonymity say turkish government yet provide enough evidence u.s. justice department act thousands people detain crackdown since fail coup include american christian missionary andrew brunson run small church izmir turkey western coast brunson hold since october turkish media say charge include membership gulen network consider terrorist organization turkish government unite state say brunson wrongfully imprison call release speech police officer presidential palace ankara erdogan appear link fate two men give us pastor back say one pastor well give gulen us erdogan say try brunson give pastor trial live pennsylvania give easily give right away decree issue august give erdogan authority approve exchange foreigners detain convict turkey people hold countries situations require national security national interest ask erdogan suggestion swap gulen brunson state department spokeswoman heather nauert say imagine would go road receive extradition request gulen tell daily state department brief nothing new continue call pastor brunson release say u.s. diplomats able visit brunson september 18 add continue advocate release wrongfully imprison turkey like see bring home turkey 's erdogan link fate detain u.s. pastor want cleric gulen