Hours ago, it was confirmed that while Brunson was found guilty, he is nevertheless a free man as the time he spent in prison during his trial covered the length of the court’s custodial sentence of three years one month and fifteen days as judges further considered Brunson’s personal state in foregoing any requirements for Brunson to serve further prison time. More: U.S. pastor released from house arrest in Turkey to visit White House on Saturday

Brunson, a Christian missionary who has lived in Turkey for more than two decades, was arrested in 2016 and accused of plotting to overthrow the government of Turkey, led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. U.S. President Donald Trump and American evangelical Christian preacher Andrew Brunson (L) participate in a prayer a day after Brunson was released from a Turkish jail, in the Oval Office, on October 13, 2018 in Washington, DC. I love Jesus, I love Turkey." Brunson’s lawyer Ismail Cem Halavurt told CNN that Brunson’s electronic tag would later be removed and that his client was now a “free man.”

A source, who confirmed Brunson’s travel ban and house arrest had been lifted, told CNN that the next step was to guard his safety and get him out of the country.
A court in Turkey orders the release of American evangelical Christian pastor Andrew Brunson after two years of arrest.