U.S. Courts Push Back: Judge Blocks Turkish Effort to Exploit Legal System for Political Ends

A United States federal judge in New York has delivered a significant ruling that halts Turkey’s attempt to leverage American courts for politically motivated investigations. Judge John P. Cronan of the Southern District of New York reversed his earlier decision (from December 17, 2024) and invalidated subpoenas intended to access the U.S. banking records of Cevdet Türkyolu, a longtime aide to the late Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen—a vocal critic of President Erdoğan.

source

What’s Behind the Ruling

Correcting procedural missteps: The court found that Turkey’s legal request violated U.S. rules—specifically failing to notify Türkyolu before serving subpoenas on American banks, denying him the opportunity to object.
Questionable legitimacy: The evidence presented by Turkey was deemed insufficient to prove the subpoenas were linked to a bona fide criminal proceeding. As a result, the judge determined the request appeared politically driven rather than legally grounded.
Growing judicial resistance: This ruling aligns with a broader pattern in U.S. courts. Similar denials have occurred in cases involving Turkey’s requests under 28 U.S.C. § 1782—used to obtain documents or testimony for proceedings abroad. Judges in Illinois and Ohio have previously dismissed such attempts, citing insufficient justification and inconsistent procedural practices.

Why It Matters

For years, Turkey’s administration has tried to use U.S. legal tools — including the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) and domestic court filings — to pursue critics abroad. These efforts were routinely rebuffed by the U.S. Justice Department due to lack of credible evidence. When that failed, Turkish officials attempted a workaround: filing requests directly in U.S. district courts.

This ruling represents a meaningful check on such strategies, reinforcing the integrity of the U.S. judicial system. It sends a clear message: U.S. courts will not be an instrument for foreign political agendas.