Mystery slaying splits Trump, GOP
Lawmakers critical of soft line for Saudis
WASHINGTON — The crisis over Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi’s apparent murder at the Saudi Consulate in Turkey, which U.S. lawmakers believe was an orchestrated hit by the Saudi government, has opened a growing rift between President Trump and congressional Republicans just three weeks before the midterms.
The president repeatedly touted the denials by Saudi Arabia’s king and crown prince of any involvement in Khashoggi’s Oct. 2 disappearance from the consulate.
Yesterday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to press them on the matter, but appeared on camera smiling and shaking hands with each of them even as Turkish officials said police found evidence at the consulate that Khashoggi was slain inside.
As lawmakers, including key Trump Republican allies amplified their call for a strong and swift response — including imposing sanctions and halting arms sales to the country — Trump repeatedly defended the Saudi line.
“Just spoke with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia who totally denied any knowledge of what took place in their Turkish Consulate,” Trump tweeted. “He was with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during the call, and told me that he has already started, and will rapidly expand, a full and complete investigation into this matter. Answers will be forthcoming shortly.”
That leaves Trump, who Monday suggested it might have been “rogue killers” behind Khashoggi’s murder, out of step with even close allies in Washington like U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).
“Well, this is not rogue killers,” Graham said yesterday in a Fox News interview where he laid the blame at the feet of Mohammad bin Salman. “This is a rogue Crown Prince.”
U.S. Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) called for the suspension of arms sales, as well as for Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to drop out of a Saudi investment conference in Riyadh scheduled for next week. Trump said he would make the decision of whether Mnuchin will attend by Friday.
Trump said he is relying on Saudi and Turkish officials to conduct the investigation into Khashoggi’s whereabouts, but Attorney General Jeff Sessions said yesterday that the Justice Department could also get involved.
“The matter is being given evaluation,” Sessions told reporters at the Justice Department. "The FBI understands its responsibilities and I’m not able to comment on any details of what might be occurring."