Dem senator calls for US action after ‘preposterous’ Saudi explanation

Sen. Chris MurphyChristopher (Chris) Scott MurphySaudi mystery drives wedge between Trump, GOP Overnight Defense: Trump worries Saudi Arabia treated as ‘guilty until proven innocent’ | McConnell opens door to sanctions | Joint Chiefs chair to meet Saudi counterpart | Mattis says Trump backs him ‘100 percent’ Pompeo: Saudis committed to ‘accountability’ over journalist’s disappearance MORE (D-Conn.) on Friday slammed the Saudi government’s explanation for the death of Jamal Khashoggi, describing it as “preposterous” and calling for U.S. action.

“For two weeks, Saudi Arabia has been lying to the world, telling us that Jamal was alive when they knew, the whole time, he was dead,” Murphy wrote on Twitter.

“The new explanation is preposterous, and America’s moral compass has come completely unmoored if we don’t take action,” he added.

For two weeks, Saudi Arabia has been lying to the world, telling us that Jamal was alive when they knew, the whole time, he was dead.

The new explanation is preposterous, and America’s moral compass has come completely unmoored if we don’t take action.

— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) October 20, 2018

Earlier Friday, the Saudi government for the first time acknowledged that Khashoggi was killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul earlier this month.

Saudi Arabia claimed in a statement that the dissident journalist, who was a columnist for The Washington Post, died during a fight inside the consulate.

Sen. Bob CorkerRobert (Bob) Phillips CorkerOvernight Defense: Trump shifts tone on Saudis | New pressure from lawmakers | Trump: ‘Certainly looks’ like Khashoggi dead | Pompeo gives Saudis days to wrap up investigation | Trump threatens military action on border to stop migrants Trump changes tone on Saudi Arabia amid mounting pressure The Hill’s 12:30 Report — Mnuchin won’t attend Saudi conference | Pompeo advises giving Saudis ‘few more days’ to investigate | Trump threatens military action over caravan MORE (R-Tenn.), the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, joined other lawmakers on Friday in expressing doubt over Saudi Arabia’s explanation, saying “we should not assume” that it “holds water.”

“The story the Saudis have told about Jamal Khashoggi’s disappearance continues to change with each passing day, so we should not assume their latest holds water,” Corker said in a statement.

“They can undergo their investigation, but the U.S. administration must make its own independent, credible determination of responsibility for Khashoggi’s murder under the Global Magnitsky investigation as required by law,” he added.

NEW from @SenBobCorker regarding Saudi claims on #JamalKhashoggi: pic.twitter.com/KJqc33SYWK

— Micah Johnson (@MicahTNDC) October 20, 2018

The Saudi government originally claimed earlier this month that Khashoggi left the consulate soon after he entered on Oct. 2 to pick up paperwork for his marriage.

Turkish officials, meanwhile, have said they have audio recordings that prove Khashoggi was murdered inside the consulate, though Turkey hasn’t released any recordings publicly.

Several other lawmakers — including Sens. Lindsey GrahamLindsey Olin GrahamThe Memo: Saudi storm darkens for Trump Trump changes tone on Saudi Arabia amid mounting pressure Trump rebukes Saudis, but also gives them more time MORE (R-S.C.), Brian SchatzBrian Emanuel SchatzOvernight Health Care — Presented by Purdue Pharma — Democrats, McConnell spar over entitlements | Minnesota AG sues drugmakers over insulin price hikes | CDC investigates polio-like illness GOP shrugs off dire study warning of global warming Dems to force health care vote weeks before Nov. midterms MORE (D-Hawaii) and Sen. Jeff MerkleyJeffrey (Jeff) Alan MerkleySenate Dems ask Trump to disclose financial ties to Saudi Arabia Poll: Dem incumbent holds 5-point lead in Oregon governor’s race Trump, Feinstein feud intensifies over appeals court nominees MORE (D-Ore.) — on Friday also criticized Saudi Arabia’s explanation for Khashoggi’s death.

President TrumpDonald John TrumpThe Guardian slams Trump over comments about assault on reporter Five takeaways from the first North Dakota Senate debate Watchdog org: Tillerson used million in taxpayer funds to fly throughout US MORE told reporters during a trip to Arizona on Friday that he believed the kingdom’s explanation was credible while he called the arrests of more than a dozen Saudi nationals in connection with the case a “good first step.”