The Trump administration cancels $1.2 million weapons deal with Turkey after president's security detail attacked protesters in D.C.
On Monday, the Trump administration withdrew from a deal to sell $1.2 million in semiautomatic weapons to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's security detail as retribution for the detail violently attacking peaceful protesters in Washington, D.C., in May, The Associated Press reports.
In August, the U.S. Justice Department indicted 19 people, including 15 people identified as Turkish security officials, after a grand jury in Washington agreed that all 19 defendants were guilty of at least conspiracy to commit a crime of violence for their role in the brawl outside the Turkish ambassador's house in Washington, during a visit by Erdogan. Video of the melee shows men in black suits assaulting peaceful demonstrators in a park across from the Turkish residence. Turkey maintains that pro-Erdogan civilians were simply defending themselves.
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