Senators offer measure naming Saudi crown prince ‘responsible’ for Khashoggi slaying

Senators are introducing a resolution on Thursday that names Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman “responsible” for the slaying of Washington Post contributor Jamal Khashoggi.

The resolution, spearheaded by Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), is nonbinding but would put the Senate on the record amid growing frustration on Capitol Hill about the U.S.-Saudi relationship. 

In addition to saying the Senate “believes Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is responsible for the murder of Jamal Khashoggi,” it also calls for the Saudi government “to ensure appropriate accountability for all those responsible for Jamal Khashoggi’s murder.”

{mosads}It further warns that “misleading statements by the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia regarding the murder of Jamal Khashoggi have undermined trust and confidence in the longstanding friendship between the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”

The resolution, according to a release from Corker’s office, will get a Senate vote, but it is not clear when. The Senate is likely to be in session until at least Dec. 21 unless lawmakers get a deal to fund the rest of the government and avoid a partial shutdown. 

Passing the resolution would mark a major rebuke of President Trump, who told Reuters this week that he was standing by the Saudi government because it had been a “very good ally.”

The U.S. intelligence community, though, has reportedly found that the crown prince is responsible for Khashoggi’s death — a view shared by a growing number of senators. 

In addition to Corker, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) and Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) are supporting the resolution.