U.S. Works to Ease Tensions With Turkey to Secure Pastor’s Release

Trump administration tries to remove irritants between Washington and Ankara in effort to free Andrew Brunson

WASHINGTON—The Trump administration is stepping up efforts to secure the release of an American pastor held for more than a year in Turkey on terrorism charges his lawyers say are politically motivated.

The Trump administration has been working to remove irritants to relations between Ankara and Washington in advance of Andrew Brunson’s first court hearing this month, lawyers and officials said.

The...