Graham warns Trump against Saudi Arabia

Sen. Lindsey GrahamLindsey Olin GrahamCIA Report complicates US response to Khashoggi murder Leon Panetta's nightmare is the current national security crisis The Hill & # 39; s Morning Report – The victorious GOP in Florida while Sunbelt's strategy looks promising for 2020 (R-S.C.), One of the President TrumpDonald John TrumpPaul Ryan defends the admiral of the navy after Trump's critics. Trump discusses his visit abroad as a result of criticism.The most loyal allies, warned the president on Tuesday that ignoring the bad behavior of Saudi Arabia could jeopardize America's moral leadership on the world stage.

Graham, chairman of the Subcommittee on Credits for the State and Foreign Operations, said that Saudi Arabia should be held responsible for the death of American journalist Jamal Khashoggi, killed after entering the consulate of Japan. 39, Saudi Arabia in Istanbul on 2 October.

"It is not in the interest of our national security to look away from the brutal murder of Mr. Jamal Khashoggi," Graham said in a statement released Tuesday afternoon.

The Republican of South Carolina, who will become chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee in January, warned that Trump's tolerant stance on Saudi Arabia threatens to undermine his country's role as a moral leader .

"I am fully aware that we have to deal with bad actors and an imperfect situation on the international stage," said Graham Graham. "However, when we lose our moral voice, we lose our most powerful asset."

In a statement released Tuesday, Trump defended Saudi Arabia as a major counterweight to the Middle East to Iran and praised what he described as a Saudi pledge to spend $ 450 billion. in the USA.

The president also asked whether Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was involved in the death of Khashoggi, while the CIA allegedly concluded that the crown prince was responsible for the journalist's murder.

Trump said Tuesday that King Salman and the Crown Prince had vigorously denied any information regarding the planning or execution of Khashoggi's murder.

"Our intelligence agencies continue to evaluate all the information, but it could very well be that the Crown Prince has learned about this tragic event – maybe he did it and maybe that He did not do it! "Said Trump in his statement.

He then told reporters at the White House that, breaking up with Saudi Arabia, an influential member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) would send oil prices "across the sky" .

Graham, Tuesday afternoon, said the Senate should act by voting on sanctions legislation.

"I firmly believe that there will be strong bipartisan support for harsh sanctions against Saudi Arabia, including appropriate members of the royal family, for this barbaric act that has defied all civilized norms. ", did he declare. "Although Saudi Arabia is a strategic ally, the Crown Prince's behavior – in myriad ways – has shown a lack of respect for the relationship and made, in my opinion, beyond poisonous . "

The administration imposed sanctions on 17 Saudis suspected of being involved in the killing of Khashoggi, author of The Washington Post.

Graham is one of the Republican co-sponsors of Saudi Arabia's accountability law and the Yemeni law, which would suspend arms sales to Saudi Arabia, ban US planes to refuel the Saudi coalition aircraft involved in the civil war in Yemen, and would require a report on the human presence. human rights violations in Saudi Arabia.

Graham became the second member of the Republican Senate to break with Trump after his statement on Tuesday asking if the Crown Prince was involved in Khashoggi's death and proclaiming Saudi Arabia "unwavering partner."

Sen. Rand PaulRandal (Rand) Howard PaulClapper: The assassination of a Saudi journalist shows that Trump will accept the words of the autocratic relationship under the pressure of the relationship between the Saudi Crown Prince and Rand Paul: "The overwhelming evidence" that the Crown Prince Saudi was involved in the murder of Khashoggi PLUS (R-Ky.), Member of the Foreign Relations Committee, Criticized Trump's Statement for Promoting a "Saudi Arabia First" Policy Instead of a "America First" Doctrine ".

Paul called for a vote on legislation that would prevent any arms sales to Saudi Arabia. Trump estimated the global arms deal at $ 110 billion.