Senator Ron Wyden Steps Forward for Enes Kanter

U.S. Senator from Oregon Ron Wyden has made a public declaration urging the U.S. Secretary of State to warn Turkey that their actions against Portland Trail Blazers center Enes Kanter are “unacceptable”. Wyden’s office has published a press release explaining the Senator’s stance on Kanter and the INTERPOL “red notice” initiated by Turkey which makes international travel risky for the NBA player.

The release quotes Wyden’s letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo:

“President Erdogan has responded like many thin-skinned autocrats before him, by going after Mr. Kanter and his family,” Wyden wrote. “America cannot and must not stay silent in the face of such a blatant assault on free thought and expression. This is even truer when the perpetrators of such odious behavior are supposed friends and allies.”

It also summarizes Wyden’s call to action:

“I call on you to raise Mr. Kanter’s case, publicly and in private, and to state for the record that the U.S. will not cooperate with “red notices” or extradition requests.”.

Kanter himself quoted the release this morning, via KTVL reporter Brian Schnee:

Kanter signed with the Trail Blazers in February, a veteran’s minimum contract that expires in July of this year.