At least 19 people, including 15 Turkish security officials, were indicted for the involvement in a brawl outside the Turkish Embassy residence back in May.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s guards and officials working for the Turkish Embassy in Washington, D.C., beat up a group of protesters in the Sheridan Circle. A group of Kurdish and Armenian protesters tried to voice their disapproval and criticism for President Erdogan’s policies against Turkey’s Kurds.
At least two people were arrested soon after the incident, but both of them were released pending trial.
The brawl by Mr. Erdogan’s bodyguards prompted widespread outrage in the U.S. The House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee unanimously condemned the violent attack on peaceful protesters while Senator John McCain called to expel the Turkish ambassador.
A bipartisan group of senators called on Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to waive any claims to immunity for security detail of foreign delegations.
President Erdogan criticized the U.S. authorities in June for seeking arrest of members of his security team. D.C. police issued arrest warrants for 12 people for their role in the episode.
