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On October 2, while the alleged killing of Khashoggi inside the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul has been the subject of increasing information, sources report that the possibility that a "rogue" official could be blamed. ask questions about Trump 's potential conflicts of interest.
Some lawmakers request an independent international inquiry, while others ask the president to report back to Congress within one month on any personal financial ties that he might have with the Kingdom and who could create conflicts of interest.
"According to public information, the Trump organization has had business relations with the Saudi government and members of the Saudi royal family for decades," a group of Democratic senators wrote to the president on Wednesday.
"It's not a trivial matter"
While Trump insisted this week that he had no financial interest in Saudi Arabia, he publicly boasted of the money he had won with Saudi real estate investors and the Saudis paid out money. money in Trump hotels since the election of the president.
Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse has become the last Republican to worry about Trump's treatment of the Saudi affair, telling CNN's Christiane Amanpour: "I think we will need a international investigation "on the alleged death of Khashoggi.
"This is not a trivial matter that will be swept under the rug," Sasse said, adding that he hoped Trump would listen to information from his intelligence services, "not just the arguments that come from officials Saudi ".
California Democrat Senator Dianne Feinstein, who sits on the Intelligence Committee, echoed her remarks. "Instead of accepting the denials of King Salman and the Crown Prince without any evidence or silly theories that he was killed by dishonest agents, President Trump should immediately call for an international investigation into Khashoggi's disappearance," he said. wrote Feinstein in an article published Wednesday by Mercury.
In separate remarks on Wednesday, Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo continued their efforts to give the Riyadh leaders time to explain Khashoggi's disappearance.
"I do not protect at all," Trump told the question of whether he covered Saudi Arabia. "I just want to know what's going on." The president said Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto leader of the kingdom, had strongly denied any involvement in the alleged murder of Khashoggi.
Several CNN officials have stated that the alleged murder would not have occurred without the direct knowledge of the 33-year-old Crown Prince, known by his initials "MBS".
"An important factor"
Sources told CNN that the Saudis were preparing to say that Khashoggi had died during an interrogation at the consulate, and three sources close to the case told CNN that the responsibility rested with a service officer. high-ranking intelligence linked to the Crown Prince.
The emerging narrative seems designed to isolate Saudi leaders from responsibility.
Although there are signs of close ties between the Crown Prince and some of the 15 Saudis suspected of being involved in the disappearance of Khashoggi, the President made it clear in an interview with Fox Business Wednesday that the administration It would be acceptable for King Salman and the Crown Prince to be found to ignore the murder.
"That's an important factor for me," Trump said.
Trump and Pompeo also highlighted the different foreign policy reasons for Saudi Arabia's defense on Wednesday.
"Saudi Arabia is a very important ally for us in the Middle East," said Trump, citing an agreement on the sale of arms between the United States and Saudi Arabia. worth $ 110 billion, while only $ 14.5 billion of this amount has begun to materialize.
Pompeo, speaking in front of reporters in Brussels after stops in Saudi Arabia and Turkey, said "we must make sure we are aware" of the important US-Saudi ties as the administration draws its conclusion from what happened to Khashoggi and evaluates the results of a Saudi Inquiry into the case.
"I think it's important that everyone keep in mind that we have many important relationships – financial relations between US and Saudi companies, government relations, things we work on together around the world, efforts of "fighting against Iran, Pompeo told reporters in Brussels.
"These are important elements of US national policy that are in the best interests of the United States, and we simply need to make sure that we are aware of this when we approach the decisions that the US government will make when we learn all facts associated with anything that can happen to us. " have occurred, "said Pompeo.
Asked why the United States seemed to give Saudi Arabia the benefit of the doubt, given the preponderance of the signs of high-level Saudi involvement, Mr. Pompeo said "qu & # It is reasonable to give them a few more days to complete, well, to be complete and complete.
Possible audio proof
But it was difficult to know how much information Pompeo had gleaned or was interested in collecting. When asked on Wednesday whether Saudi officials had told him whether Khashoggi was dead or alive, he replied, "I do not want to talk about any of the facts, and they did not want it either."
Pompeo and Trump spoke while the Turkish media had published macabre details drawn from an audio recording of Khashoggi's assassination in the Saudi Arabian consulate, suggesting that the father of four would have been tortured and killed soon after entering the consulate.
Turkish officials told CNN that Khashoggi's body was dismembered after his assassination at the consulate. According to one source, the father of four, aged 59 at the time of his disappearance, may have received some kind of tranquilizer.
Trump told reporters Wednesday that the United States had asked Turkey for a copy of the audio that she claims to have, but the president had hinted that he doubted the existence actual registration.
"We asked, if it exists," said the president. "I'm not sure yet that it exists, probably, probably exists."
Trump stated that he was expecting to "have a full report on this from Mike [Pompeo] when he comes back. "The two men are scheduled to meet on Thursday morning to discuss the issue.
