‘Smoking saw’ links MBS to Khashoggi – senator
US senators said a classified briefing from the CIA convinced them that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman played a role in dissident columnist Jamal Khashoggi’s dismemberment, with one describing the evidence as ‘‘a smoking saw.’’
Rejecting President Donald Trump’s efforts to play down the prince’s role, Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Corker, of Tennessee, said that if a jury were to consider a case against Prince Mohammed, he’d be convicted of murder in 30 minutes.
‘‘There is zero question in my mind that the crown prince directed the murder and was kept apprised of the situation all the way through,’’ Corker said yesterday after the closed-door briefing with CIA Director Gina Haspel and a handful of senators. Senators in the coming week are likely to consider a resolution that would restrict US support for the Saudi military campaign in Yemen, which has contributed to a humanitarian disaster.
But the debate could become a virtual trial over Prince Mohammed’s responsibility for Khashoggi’s murder at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul and Trump’s effort to downplay it. Senators could add amendments to further punish the kingdom.
The House hasn’t indicated it plans to move forward with a similar debate. Members of that chamber are scheduled to receive a briefing from Defence Secretary Jim Mattis and Secretary of State Michael Pompeo on December 13, according to a House aide. It’s not clear whether Haspel would be there, the aide said.
Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina who has often been a Trump ally, said the only conclusion was that Prince Mohammed, known as MBS, is responsible for the killing.
‘There’s not a smoking gun, there’s a smoking saw,’’ Graham said, in an apparent reference to reports that the columnist was beheaded, dismembered and his fingers were severed.
‘‘You have to be wilfully blind not to come to the conclusion and that this was orchestrated and organised by people under the command of MBS and that he was intricately involved in the demise of Mr Khashoggi,’’ Graham said.
Graham said he won’t support arms sales to Saudi Arabia while Prince Mohammed is in power. Corker said it was going to be difficult to determine what measure the Senate can pass with overwhelming support.
Senators who weren’t invited to yesterday’s briefing, said more senators should also get the same briefing.
The administration last week sent Mattis and Pompeo to the Capitol, but senators emerged angrier than before, in part because Haspel didn’t participate.
Graham said yesterday the difference between the Haspel briefing and the one last week was ‘‘like darkness and sunshine’’ in terms of shedding light on MBS’s involvement in Khashoggi’s killing. –