Follow the Story
David Letterman says Trump’s Truth Social post attacking Seth Meyers shows he’s a ‘dictator’
Gold Bar Bob Menendez acted against Americans to help cover up Khashoggi’s murder
Trump claims Saudi Arabian crown prince ‘knew nothing’ about killing of US journalist: ‘Things happen’
Jamal Khashoggi’s widow planning to confront Saudi Prince MBS during White House visit
Jimmy Kimmel grills Aziz Ansari for performing at Riyadh comedy festival under ‘brutal regime’
Fired columnist Karen Attiah claims she’s being silenced, sources say she’s just blaming her problems on others
GOP Sen. Mike Lee was among a number of bipartisan lawmakers on Sunday criticizing President Trump’s decision to give Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman a pass over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
“I disagree with the president’s assessment. It’s inconsistent with the intelligence I’ve seen. Now look, I don’t have access to everything the president sees. I’m not sure what he’s relying on. The intelligence I’ve seen suggests that this was ordered by the crown prince,” Lee of Utah said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
He also said he was “certain” Congress will look into whether Trump has any personal ties to the kingdom that could be leading him to back the crown prince despite the CIA’s conclusion that the ruling royal was behind Khashoggi’s death.
“Look, I don’t know why he’s siding with the Saudis. But I think there are things we can do to change our relationship with the Saudis, notwithstanding whatever his personal motivations might be. I’m also certain that in the next Congress, people will look into that,” Lee said.
Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff said Trump isn’t being straight with the American people.
“I have been briefed by the CIA,” Schiff of California told CNN’s “State of the Union.” “And while I cannot discuss the contents of the briefing in any way, I can say that I think the president is being dishonest with the American people.”
GOP Sen. Joni Ernst said she would support “congressional action” against Saudi Arabia if Trump doesn’t announce harsher measures against the kingdom.
“If there are indicators that the prince was involved in this murder, then we need absolutely to consider further action,” Ernst of Iowa said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
Acknowledging that Saudi Arabia is a “strategic partner” in the Middle East, Ernst also said that the US’ support for human rights around the globe and belief in the rule of law calls for a closer look at the kingdom’s role in the death of Khashoggi, a columnist for the Washington Post.
“We need to understand where the investigations are leading us. I’m anxious to hear from a number of our intelligence agencies on this,” she said.
Trump last week sidestepped a determination by the CIA that Prince Mohammed directed the murder of Khashoggi on Oct. 2 at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul and voiced his continued support for the ruling royal family.
“Whether he did or whether he didn’t, he denies it vehemently,” Trump told reporters last Wednesday as he prepared to leave the White House for his Florida resort. “The CIA doesn’t say they did it. They do point out certain things, and in pointing out those things, you can conclude that maybe he did or maybe he didn’t.”
Ernst was asked if Trump gave Saudi Arabia a pass.
“I think at such a time when it becomes necessary the president also needs to speak directly to the Saudis and say enough is enough,” she said.
GOP Sen. Ben Sasse, a prominent critic of the president, rebuked Trump for being “weak” on Saudi Arabia.
“MBS contributed to murdering somebody abroad, and it is not strength to sort of mumble past that. Strength is telling the truth even when it’s hard,” Sasse told “Fox News Sunday,” using the crown prince’s initials.
The Nebraska lawmaker said he and other senators have been briefed on the murder and will receive another classified briefing on Tuesday.
“The report is really clear, and the president should be stronger,” he said. “That was a weak statement.”
Schiff, who will likely be the chair of the House Intelligence Committee when Democrats assume control in January, said Trump’s response to Khashoggi’s death harms the US around the world.
“It causes our standing in the world to plummet, it telegraphs to despots around the world that they can murder people then impunity, and that this president will have their back as long as they praise him,” he said on “State of the Union.”
The Trump administration has imposed sanctions on 17 individuals that Saudi Arabia said were connected in Khashoggi’s death.
The kingdom has said he died after getting into a brawl with Saudi officials at the consulate who were trying to return him to the country but adamantly contend that the prince had no knowledge of their plans.



