WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump said Friday he found Saudi Arabia sexplanation about the death of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggicredible and termed it an “important first step.”
And he said that if the US did take action over Khashoggi s death — whichSaudi Arabia said came as a result of a fight at its consulate in Istanbul,while Turkish officials have pointed to a state-sanctioned hit — he doesnot want it to impact arms sales to the kingdom.
“I do, I do,” Trump said when asked if he found the Saudis explanationcredible, adding: “It s early, we haven t finished our review orinvestigation, 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 wemay determine to do, if anything… that we don t use as retributioncanceling $110 billion worth of work, which means 600,000 jobs,” he saidduring a visit to Arizona, referring to a major arms deal with the kingdom.
Trump has sent mixed messages about Khashoggi for days, vowing a severeresponse but also saying that the United States wants to preserve its closerelationship with the conservative kingdom.
Members of the US Congress were far harsher in the wake of the kingdom sannouncement of Khashoggi s death.
Senator Lindsey Graham, a close Trump ally who has nonetheless beenoutspoken about Khashoggi, doubted the credibility of the Saudiauthorities, which insisted for weeks that he left the consulate.
“To say that I am skeptical of the new Saudi narrative about Mr Khashoggiis an understatement,” the Republican senator tweeted.
Bob Menendez, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee,said the United States should pursue sanctions against Saudis involved inKhashoggi s death under a US law named after Sergei Magnitsky, theanti-corruption Russian accountant who died in custody.
“The Global Magnitsky Act doesn t have exceptions for accidents. Even ifKhashoggi died because of an altercation, that s no excuse for his murder,”Menendez tweeted.
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“This is far from the end and we need to keep up the internationalpressure.”
Khashoggi, a Washington Post contributor who lived in suburban Washington,was a former insider who turned into a critic of the kingdom s directionunder Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
He visited the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2 to sort outmarriage paperwork, but his fiancee saw nothing more of him after heentered.
Representative Mike Coffman, one of a number of lawmakers from Trump sRepublican Party facing a tough race in November 6 elections, said theUnited States “must stand up for our values and demand our allies respecthuman rights.”
The Colorado lawmaker, who serves on the House Armed Services Committee,urged Trump to immediately recall the acting US ambassador from SaudiArabia. Trump has yet to nominate a permanent envoy to the kingdom.
United Nations chief Antonio Guterres meanwhile demanded that thoseresponsible for Khashoggi s death be held to account.
“The Secretary-General is deeply troubled by the confirmation of the deathof Jamal Khashoggi. He extends his condolences to Mr Khashoggi s family andfriends,” Guterres s office said in a statement.
“The Secretary-General stresses the need for a prompt, thorough andtransparent investigation into the circumstances of Mr Khashoggi s deathand full accountability for those responsible.” – APP/AFP
