Senators introduce resolution saying Saudi crown prince ‘complicit’ in Khashoggi slaying

A bipartisan group of senators introduced a resolution Wednesday throwing Senate support behind the finding that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was “complicit” in the death of Washington Post contributor Jamal Khashoggi.

The resolution says the Senate believes the Saudi crown prince “was in control of security forces” during the killing and “based on evidence and analysis made available to this institution, has a high level of confidence that Mohammed bin Salman was complicit in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.”

{mosads}The measure was introduced by Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Christopher Coons (D-Del.).

The resolution is nonbinding, but if approved, would put the Senate on the record saying Crown Prince Mohammed is responsible for Khashoggi’s slaying inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul in early October.

Passage of the measure would be a significant break from President Trump, who used a statement late last month to cast doubt on the crown prince’s involvement in the killing, saying “we may never know” the facts around Khashoggi’s death.

The resolution also urges the Trump administration and the international community to “hold all parties, including Mohammed bin Salman, involved in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi accountable.”

“I believe it’s vitally important to U.S. national security interests to make a definitive statement about the brutal murder of an American resident — Mr. Khashoggi — who has three American citizen children,” Graham said in a statement Wednesday.

The Senate is bracing for a chaotic floor fight over the Saudi-led campaign in Yemen and Khashoggi’s death. They voted to send a resolution to the full Senate last week that would require Trump to withdraw troops in or “affecting” Yemen within 30 days unless they are fighting al Qaeda.

The resolution also calls on the Saudi government to negotiate with representatives of the Houthi movement and agree to a political resolution and end the country’s humanitarian crisis.