MIDTOWN — A Turkish prosecutor is probing whether Sen. Chuck Schumer and former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara had any connection to the failed coup in the country last year, according to a Turkish news report.
Schumer and Bharara are two of 17 Americans being investigated by the prosecutor for possible links to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), which attempted to unseat President Recep Tayyip Erdogan last July, according to the Anadolu Agency, a Turkish-run news wire.
Schumer and Bharara may have connections to Fetullah Gülen, a Pennsylvania-based cleric who’s been accused of facilitating the coup from the U.S., according to reports. Gülen has denied any involvement.
Former CIA Director John Brennan is also under investigation, according to Anadolu.
Thousands of FETO suspects have already been arrested in connection with the uprising, which left 249 people dead and more than 2,000 injured, according to the news service.
Bharara made light of the accusations on Twitter.
Banned by Putin & now accused by Erdogan. Not saying pattern, but if Duterte charges me w/drug trafficking, I'm gonna think something's up. https://t.co/finZuqr5gt
— Preet Bharara (@PreetBharara) April 15, 2017
Schumer's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
