The United States Senate has passed a resolution condemning Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman over the death of Saudi journalist, Jamal Khashoggi, in early October. The resolution was introduced by outgoing Republican Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee
The Senate’s decision is a rebuke of President Donald Trump who has continued his support of the Crown Prince and Saudi Arabia even after a CIA investigation concluded the Saudi heir ordered Khashoggi’s murder. The action of the US Senate is the strongest response to Saudi Arabia since the brutal killing of the Washington Post contributor had been highly critical of the Saudi government and the Crown Prince’s policies.
The said resolution states that the Senate “believes Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is responsible for the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.” It adds that they call “for the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to ensure appropriate accountability for all those responsible for Jamal Khashoggi’s murder.”
The voice vote on the resolution was followed by a vote on a resolution to end US support of the Saudi-led Yemen War. This resolution passed 56-41.
The resolution against Crown Prince Mohammed will now go to the House of Representatives where it will be up for a vote. If it passes there, it will then go to the White House for President Trump to sign or veto. A veto would represent the President still siding with the Saudis while a signature would signify he had aligned with Congress.
Another Republican Senator, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina remarked, “You have to be willfully blind not to come to the conclusion that this was orchestrated and organised by people under the command of MBS and that he was intrinsically involved in the demise of Mr Khashoggi,” according to CNN.
The Saudi government has continuously denied that the son of King Salman was involved.
