Biden tells Erdogan that only a federal court can extradite Gulen

US Vice President Joe Biden told Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday that only a federal court could extradite Fethullah Gulen, the Muslim cleric Turkey blames for orchestrating last month's failed coup.

In statements to reporters in Ankara after meeting Erdogan, Biden said those involved in the coup attempt were terrorists and said the U.S. had more lawyers working on the request for Gulen's extradition than in any other such recent case. Biden said it may be difficult for Turks to understand that President Barack Obama had no constitutional authority to extradite the cleric. He promised that Washington would work closely with the Turkish government on the case.

US officials are reviewing evidence that Turkey has provided about Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who has been blamed by Turkey for a failed coup there in July, the White House said on Wednesday.
Ankara has demanded that Gulen be extradited to Turkey from the United States. 

"Turkey has longstanding concerns with Mr. Gulen's activity, and they have presented significant evidence to the United States, and Department of Justice officials are carefully reviewing that evidence," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said in a news briefing.