>> Sandra: THIS IS A FOX NEWS
ALERT.
THE BIG NEWS WE'VE BEEN
FOLLOWING FOR YOU THE PAST
HOUR, AN AMERICAN PASTOR HELD
PRISONER IN TURKEY FOR TWO
YEARS WILL SOON BE HEADING HOME.
A COURT IN TURKEY FREEING
ANDREW BRUNSON JUST MINUTES AGO.
PRESIDENT TRUMP TWEETING MY
THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH
PASTOR BRUNSON APPEARED HOPE TO
HAVE HIM SAFELY BACK HOME SOON.
JOINING US BY PHONE SENATOR
LINDSEY GRAHAM.
THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
THIS HAS BEEN A TOP PRIORITY
FOR YOU.
WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THE NEWS?
>> WELL, I'M PLEASED.
I WON'T CELEBRATE UNTIL HE GETS
HOME.
I THINK THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION, PRESIDENT TRUMP
AND VICE PRESIDENT PENCE AND
TRULY BIPARTISAN, SENATORS
TILLIS, LANGFORD AND SHAHEEN WE
VISITED PASTOR BRUNSON MONTHS
AGO IN TURKEY.
ALLOW THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
THE UNITED STATES AND TURKEY TO
IMPROVE AND HE IS A FINE MAN,
PASTOR BRUNSON AND HIS WIFE,
AND I'M JUST GOING TO WITHHOLD
COMMENT UNTIL HE GETS HOME BUT
THIS IS A GREAT DAY AND IT
MAYBE STARTS A NEW BEGINNING
WITH THE U.S./TURKEY
RELATIONSHIP.
>> Jon: CAN YOU SAY, WAS HE
SIMPLY A PAWN IN THIS BATTLE
OVER THE ATTEMPTED COUP THAT
TRIED TO DISLODGE PRESIDENT
ERDOGAN THERE?
>> I THINK HE GOT CAUGHT UP IN
SOMETHING THAT WAS JUST NOT OF
HIS OWN MAKING.
I'VE NEVER BELIEVED ONE MINUTE
THAT PASTOR BRUNSON HAD ANY ILL
WILL TOWARD THE TURKISH
GOVERNMENT.
THERE WAS A COUP AGAINST
PRESIDENT ERDOGAN.
THE MILITARY DID TRY TO TAKE
HIM OUT AND PHYSICALLY DETAIN
HIM.
IT IS A TENSE TIME IN TURKEY
AND PRESIDENT BRUNSON HAS BEEN
THERE FOR 25 YEARS PREACHING
THE GOSPEL.
A SITUATION WHERE HE GOT CAUGHT
UP IN A SITUATION THAT NOT OF
HIS MAKING AND IT'S BEEN TWO
LONG YEARS.
I VISITED HIM IN JAIL AND
TALKED TO PRESIDENT ERDOGAN
ABOUT IT.
THE RELATIONSHIP NEEDS TO
IMPROVE AND A GREAT STEP
FORWARD.
PRESIDENT TRUMP AND VICE
PRESIDENT PENCE HAVE BEEN ALL
OVER THIS.
SENATOR LANGFORD, TILLIS AND
SHAHEEN HAVE BEEN PUSHING HARD
FOR A LONG TIME.
WHEN HE GETS HOME I'LL FEEL
BETTER.
HE IS NOT HOME YET.
>> Sandra: SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE
CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC UNTIL HE
SETS FOOT ON AMERICAN SOIL.
WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE
COMMUNICATION WITH TURKEY TO
ACTUALLY MAKE THAT HAPPEN?
WHAT WILL THE DISCUSSIONS AND
NEGOTIATIONS BE TO ACTUALLY
FACILITATE HIS RETURN?
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE COURT
PROCEDURES ARE ALL ABOUT.
I THINK HE HAS BEEN CONVICTED
AND MAY BE SUBJECT TO BEING
ALLOWED TO COME HOME FOR TIME
SERVED.
I KNOW OUR EMBASSY PERSONNEL,
MIKE POMPEO HAS BEEN TERRIFIC.
I WENT THERE SEVERAL MONTHS
AGO, TALKED TO THE NATIONAL
SECURITY ADVISOR, TALKED TO
PRESIDENT ERDOGAN DIRECTLY.
I KNOW MIKE POMPEO'S TEAM IS
HANDLING THE DETAILS AND I HOPE
THAT WE CAN GET THIS BEHIND US.
I TOLD PRESIDENT ERDOGAN IT
WOULD BE HARD FOR US TO GO
FORWARD IN A PRODUCTIVE FASHION
UNTIL THIS ISSUE IS RESOLVED
AND TURKEY IS A STRATEGIC ALLY.
IT'S AN IMPORTANT RELATIONSHIP.
WE HAVE AN AIR BASE THERE.
THEY HELPED US IN SYRIA.
KEEP OUR FINGER CROSSED AND I
HOPE HE WILL COME HOME SOON AND
POMPEO'S PEOPLE ARE WORKING
HARD.
>> Jon: THE U.S. GOVERNMENT
SLAPPED SANCTIONS ON THE
INTERIOR AND JUSTICE MINISTER
OF TURKEY IN PART AS A RESULT
OF THE BRUNSON CASE.
WOULD YOU EXPECT THOSE NOW WILL
BE DROPPED?
>> I WOULD HOPE SO.
I WOULD THINK SO.
LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT PRESIDENT
TRUMP.
HE HAS BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN
THIS.
TRIED TO GIVE TURKEY THE SPACE
THEY NEED TO GET A RESULT GOOD
FOR BOTH COUNTRIES.
HE HAS BEEN VERY PRACTICAL AND
FIRM.
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF, I THINK,
PRESIDENTIAL LEADERSHIP WORKING
WITH AN ALLY OVER A VERY
CONTENTIOUS EVENT.
TRYING TO FIND THE SPACE
NECESSARY TO GET A GOOD OUTCOME
BUT BEING TOUGH.
AND SO POMPEO'S PEOPLE ARE
WORKING AS WE SPEAK.
THIS WILL GIVE US A NEW LIFE IN
THE U.S./TURKEY RELATIONSHIP.
>> Sandra: FASCINATING TO WATCH.
AS FAR AS THE ECONOMIC
SITUATION IN TURKEY IS
CONCERNED, WE ALL KNOW IT HAS
BEEN A DETERIORATING SITUATION
THERE.
PRESIDENT TRUMP AND HIS
ADMINISTRATION SEEM UNMOFSHD BY
THAT IN EFFORTS TO GET PASTOR
BRUNSON HOME.
>> THEY HAD A GOAL TO MAKE SURE
THIS FINE MAN WOULD COME BACK
HOME.
HE GOT CAUGHT UP INTO SOMETHING
NOT OF HIS MAKING AND WHERE DO
WE GO FROM HERE?
WE GET PASTOR BRUNSON HOME
OTHER PEOPLE ARE BEING DETAINED
THAT WORK FOR THE U.S. EMBASSY.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THEM, TOO.
WE AREN'T GOING TO FORGET ABOUT
THEM.
THEY'RE TURKISH NATIONALS.
A DEA AGENT THERE.
PEOPLE STILL BEING DETAINED WE
THINK INAPPROPRIATELY AND WE
AREN'T GOING TO FORGET ABOUT
THEM.
IF THEIR FAMILIES ARE LISTENING
WE HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN ABOUT YOU.
HOW DOES THIS MOVE FORWARD?
I HOPE ONE DAY TO HAVE A FREE
TRADE AGREEMENT WITH TURKEY.
THEIR ECONOMY IS IN DECLINE.
IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR THEIR
ECONOMY AND OUR ECONOMY TO HAVE
A FREE TRADE AGREEMENT AND SHOW
WE'RE WORKING AS A PARTNER AND
A TEAM.
THAT'S A WAYS OFF.
THAT'S MY GOAL.
>> Jon: THERE WAS A TIME TURKEY
WAS DEMANDING THE U.S.
EXTRADITE INTO TURKISH CUSTODY,
AN ISLAMIST PREACHER WHO THE
GOVERNMENT THERE, ERDOGAN,
CONSIDERS AN ENEMY OF THE
GOVERNMENT.
DID THAT EVER COME INTO
CONSIDERATION, THAT KIND OF
EXCHANGE?
>> WE HAVE A PROCESS TO LOOK AT
-- WE'RE AN EVIDENCE-BASED,
LEGAL-BASED COUNTRY, NOT JUST
POLITICAL TRADES HERE.
THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION OF I
THINK THE GENTLEMAN YOU ARE
TALKING ABOUT ABOUT WHAT HIS
ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN.
HAVE THEY BEEN AGAINST THE
GOVERNMENT OF TURKEY?
HAVE THEY BEEN CRIMINAL?
THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION OF
THE PERSON YOU ARE TALKING
ABOUT.
AND WE'LL SEE WHERE THAT TAKES
US.
WE NEVER LINKED THE TWO.
THAT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE.
THAT WAS REJECTED FROM THE
START.
TURKEY UNDERSTOOD THAT.
THEY HAVE A LEGAL SYSTEM, WE
HAVE A LEGAL SYSTEM.
I WANT TO THANK PRESIDENT TRUMP
AND SECRETARY POMPEO FOR
WORKING HARD.
BUT THIS IS A TIME WHEN
CONGRESS HELPED.
WE WERE PRETTY TOUGH ABOUT THE
S-400 MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM
FROM RUSSIA.
THEY'RE A NATO ALLY.
THAT'S AGAINST EVERYTHING WE
BELIEVE.
WE'RE TRYING TO SELL THEM THE
F-35 AND HAVING AN S-400 SYSTEM
SOLD TO THE TURKEY BY RUSSIA IS
A VERY BAD SITUATION.
WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT.
THAT COMES LATER.
WE'RE TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO
HAVE A NORMAL RELATIONSHIP WITH
TURKEY.
>> Sandra: I HAVE TO ASK YOU
MEANWHILE BECAUSE PASTOR
BRUNSON'S RELEASE, SENATOR
GRAHAM, COINCIDES WITH THE
DISAPPEARANCE OF JAMAL GASH
GASH, THE SAUDI COLUMNIST FOR
THE "WASHINGTON POST" WHO WAS
INSIDE THE SAUDI CONSULATE IN
INSTAN BULL.
TURKEY SAYS THEY HAVE VIDEO AND
AUDIO EVIDENCE THAT KHASHOGGI
WAS KILLED.
WHAT IS YOUR LATEST THINKING ON
WHAT WE'RE LEARNING HERE?
BECAUSE WE DID NOT KNOW MUCH AT
FIRST AND CONTINUE TO LEARN
MORE.
>> WELL, WITH EVERY PASSING DAY
IT'S MORE LIKELY HE IS DEAD.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE SHERLOCK
HOLMES TO FIGURE OUT WHAT
HAPPENED HERE.
HE GOES INTO THE CONSULATE AT
1:15 IN THE AFTERNOON.
GIVES HIS CELL PHONE TO HIS
FIANCE AND NEVER COMES OUT.
I HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE THAT
SAUDI ARABIA HAD TARGETED HIM
IN THE PAST.
HE HAS BEEN A DISSIDENT IN THE
MILDEST FORM.
IF THIS IS TRUE THAT HE WAS
ABDUCTED AND KILLED AT THE
DIRECTION OF THE SAUDI
GOVERNMENT, IT WILL DESTROY THE
RELATIONSHIP AS WE KNOW IT.
I'VE BEEN THE BIGGEST DEFENDER
OF SAUDI ARABIA.
I'VE BEEN A BIG CHAMPION OF THE
RELATIONSHIP.
I'VE BEEN THERE MANY TIMES
USUALLY WITH SENATOR MCCAIN.
THE CROWN PRINCE TALKED ABOUT
REFORMING THE COUNTRY IN A WAY
THAT IS PLEASING AND
APPROPRIATE.
BUT IF HE AND OTHERS WERE
INVOLVED IN THIS, THAT WOULD BE
AN OFFENSE TO ME, TO OUR VALUES.
IT WOULD BE CONTEMPT FOR THE
U.S./SAUDI RELATIONSHIP AND IT
WOULD DESTROY IT IN MY EYES.
AND I WOULD DO EVERYTHING I
COULD TO PUNISH THE SAUDI
REGIME IF THEY DID, IN FACT,
KILL THIS MAN BECAUSE OF HIS
DISSIDENT VOICE.
THAT WOULD BE A COMPLETE
DISRESPECT OF OUR RELATIONSHIP
AND I WOULD WANT TO MAKE SURE
OTHERS UNDERSTOOD WHO WE ARE AS
AMERICANS.
>> Jon: A LOT OF PEOPLE ON
CAPITOL HILL ARE TALKING ABOUT
THE POSSIBILITY OF CANCELING
$110 BILLION WORTH OF ARMS
SALES TO THE SAUDIS.
WOULD YOU GO THAT FAR?
THE PRESIDENT DOESN'T SEEM TO
THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA.
>> HE MAY BE RIGHT BUT I DON'T
KNOW.
I FEEL USED AND ABUSED, QUITE
FRANKLY PERSONALLY.
I'VE STOOD WITH THE SAUDIS
AFTER THE 9/11 ACTIONS HERE,
I'VE TRIED TO HELP THE
GOVERNMENT.
THEY'VE BEEN A STRATEGIC ALLY.
THEY HELP US WITH TERRORISM.
THEY'VE BEEN STANDING UP TO
IRAN.
THEY'VE BEEN BETTER TOWARD
ISRAEL.
BUT IT MUST BE TAKING US FOR
GRANTED.
TO THINK THAT A GUY LIKE ME AND
MY COLLEAGUES WOULD ACCEPT THIS
AND JUST GO BACK TO BUSINESS AS
USUAL IS COMPLETELY
MISUNDERSTANDING WHO WE ARE.
OUR FOREIGN POLICY HAS A
COMPONENT OF OUR VALUES AND OUR
HUMAN RIGHTS VALUES.
AND WE DON'T BELIEVE IN
MURDERING PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY
ARE DISSIDENT AND YOU HAVE TO
DO BUSINESS WITH UNSAVERY
CHARACTERS IN THIS BUSINESS BUT
WHEN YOU HAVE AN ALLY YOU HAVE
TO LET THEM AND THE WORLD KNOW
WHO YOU ARE.
FROM MY POINT OF VIEW
EVERYTHING IS ON THE TABLE AND
IF THE CROWN PRINCE WAS
INVOLVED WITH THIS IN ANY
FASHION, IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE
FOR HIM TO BE A LEGITIMATE
LEADER ON THE INTERNATIONAL