News / Saudi Arabia / Foreign Policy

New Senate bill to force Trump to issue public report on Khashoggi killing

Tuesday, 26 February 2019 10:23 PM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 27 February 2019 2:52 AM ]

Members of Amnesty International hang a street sign reading "Jamal Khashoggi street" in front of the Saudi Arabian consulate on January 10, 2019 during a demonstration in Istanbul. (AFP photo)

US senators have introduced a bill aimed at forcing the administration of President Donald Trump to issue a public report on the killing of Saudi dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the kingdom’s Turkey consulate last year.

On Tuesday, Democrats in the upper chamber of US Congress filed the bill that would require US Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats to release a report on the murder of the US-based columnist within 30 days of passing the measure.

"Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of National Intelligence shall submit to Congress a report on the death of Jamal Khashoggi," the legislation states.

PressTV-US: Saudi version of Khashoggi murder 'not credible'

The United States says Saudi Arabia’s version of the murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi is not credible.

Senators Ron Wyden, Chris Coons, Martin Heinrich, Kamala Harris and Jack Reed have endorsed the measure.

“The murder of Jamal Khashoggi was a tragedy and represented an attack on journalists everywhere,” said Harris, the only 2020 contender backing the bill. “Unfortunately, the White House has not provided clear answers about what happened or who in the Saudi government might bear responsibility for the attack. We must always defend the rights of a free and independent press both at home and abroad, which is why I’m standing with my colleagues to demand a public report on this incident.”

Trump has thrown his support behind Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman - known as MbS – despite allegations implicating him in the murder.

PressTV-Riyadh says seeking death penalty for 5 in Khashoggi case

Saudi Arabia says it has held an initial hearing into the murder case of critic Jamal Khashoggi, with the public prosecutor requesting "proper punishments" for 11 defendants.

“The brutal murder of U.S. resident and Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi and the brazen cover up by the Saudi government cannot be tolerated. The American people deserve to know the truth about what happened," said Senator Reed, ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

US lawmakers and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan maintain that the crown prince and other top Saudi leaders should be held accountable for Khashoggi's assassination,

Turkish intelligence intercepts reportedly show that Khashoggi, who was last seen entering the Saudi mission in Istanbul on October 2, was murdered on a direct order from Saudi de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.

PressTV-Video: Saudi agents ‘carrying Khashoggi remains in bags’

Turkish media have released a new video, which shows members of a Saudi hit squad carrying bags reportedly containing the remains of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Khashoggi had been there to obtain a document certifying he divorced his ex-wife.

Bin Salman reportedly ordered the assassination of the former Washington Post columnist at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

"As I said, 'Maybe he did, maybe he didn't [order the killing],' Trump said. “But I will say very strongly that it's a very important ally. And if we go by a certain standard we won't be able to have allies with almost any country."

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Jamal Khashoggi