Key Republican urges criminal charges after Turkish brawl in DC

A top GOP lawmaker is urging the Trump administration to consider criminal charges for Turkish security guards following a violent clash with protestors in Washington, D.C., this week.

Rep. Ed Royce (R-Calif.), the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said Wednesday in a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson that the administration should examine charges.

“To send a clear message that these acts of violence will not be tolerated, I ask that you immediately look into this matter and bring all appropriate criminal charges before these individuals leave the United States,” the lawmaker wrote.

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Nine people were reportedly injured and two arrests were made after the guards for visiting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan clashed with demonstrators outside the Turkish ambassador’s residence on Tuesday.

Royce argued that foreign government officials in U.S. should not be immune from prosecution.

“Agents of foreign governments should never be immune from prosecution for felonious behavior. Above all else, they should never be permitted to violate the protections afforded by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution,” he said.

According to a report by The Washington Post, the D.C. police are currently working with the State Department and the Secret Service to identify all of the individuals who were involved in the incident.

U.S. officials confirmed to NBC News that men who beat protesters outside the ambassador’s residence Tuesday were bodyguards of the Turkish president. Men in black suits were seen on video kicking demonstrators at the residence.

The State Department on Wednesday issued a statement expressing “concern” over the incident.