here is a NYT article June 1 2017 referencing this Turkey subject and communications between State Dept and Senator Ben Cardin
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/01/us/politics/turkey-guns-us-protest.html
In the days after the brawl, Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland, the top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, wrote back to the department expressing concern about the sale. The State Department never replied, his spokesman said, but concerns raised during the informal review process are generally taken seriously by the department.
Given Mr. Cardin’s stature, and the attention the attack has received on Capitol Hill, his objection could potentially stall the licensing process or even prompt the State Department to cancel the sale rather than risk a potentially bruising fight with lawmakers.