The heads of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sens. Bob Corker (R-TN) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) have demanded that the President confirm whether Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
In a letter to Trump on Tuesday, both senators asked point-blank whether the crown prince was involved in the murder, according to a copy of the letter released by the lawmakers. Trump is required under the Magnitsky Act to make determinations about possible human rights violations by global leaders if the Foreign Relations Committee requests it, which leadership did in October.
“In light of recent developments, including the Saudi government’s acknowledgement that Saudi officials killed Mr. Khashoggi in its Istanbul consulate, we request that your determination specifically address whether Crown Prince Mohamed [sic] bin Salman is responsible for Mr. Khashoggi’s murder,” the senators said in the letter.
The bipartisan request comes on the heels of Trump’s release of a statement in support of Saudi Arabia that waffled on whether Salman was involved in Khashoggi murder: “Maybe he did and maybe he didn’t!” Trump said Tuesday on Salman’s knowledge of the crime.
H/t: Politico.
