Republican Senators ditched the interpretation of Saudi authorities over Jamal Khashoggi’s death, thus clashing with President Trump who claimed Saudi Arabia’s explanation was “credible.”
A state-owned Saudi television made a government announcement and confirmed the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The government explained that the death of Khashoggi was a result of a “fist fight” in the Istanbul-based Saudi consulate, adding that after this event 18 people were arrested on suspicion of involvement with the death.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina was among several U.S. lawmakers unconvinced by the explanation, pointing out the radical shift in Saudi Arabia’s account after its initial denial of involvement in the disappearance of Khashoggi.
“To say that I am skeptical of the new Saudi narrative about Mr. Khashoggi is an understatement,” tweeted Graham. “First we were told Mr. Khashoggi supposedly left the consulate and there was blanket denial of any Saudi involvement. Now, a fight breaks out and he’s killed in the consulate, all without knowledge of Crown Prince. It’s hard to find this latest ‘explanation’ as credible.”
Tennessee Republican Senator Bob Corker—chair of the Senate’s influential Foreign Relations Committee—also expressed skepticism about the Saudi account of the death, and called for an independent U.S. investigation.
“The story the Saudis have told about Jamal Khashoggi’s disappearance continues to change with each passing day, so we should not assume their latest story holds water,” he tweeted.
“They can undergo their own investigation, but the U.S. administration must make its own independent, credible determination of responsibility for Khashoggi’s murder under the Global Magnitsky investigation as required by law,” tweeted Corker, referencing the 2012 congressional act passed after the death of Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, under which the U.S. sanctioned Russian officials that were held accountable.
At a defense roundtable in Arizona on Friday, Trump replied “I do, I do,” when asked by reporters if he found the Saudi account credible.“It’s early, we haven’t finished our review or investigation, but … I think it’s a very important first step.”
“I would prefer, if there is going to be some form of sanction or what we may determine to do, if anything … that we don’t use as retribution canceling $110bn worth of work, which means 600,000 jobs,” said Trump, referring to a major arms deal with the kingdom.
He said that Congress would be involved in determining the response.
“I’m going to have very much Congress involved in determining what to do,” Trump told reporters.
“I will very much listen to what Congress has to say. They feel very strongly about it also. So I’ll be doing this with Congress,” he said.
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