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WASHINGTON – Secretary of the Treasury, Steven Mnuchin, has withdrawn from the conference on future investment initiatives to be held in Riyadh next week after being confronted with a bipartisan reaction as to his intention to 39 attend, despite the disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi, a dissident Saudi journalist.
Mnuchin planned to speak at the conference during the week in the Middle East, in six countries dedicated to combating the financing of terrorism. Several important leaders canceled its intention to attend the conference, with British, French and Dutch ministers.
The Treasury Secretary, who had been responding to management calls in recent days over the wisdom of the presence, had urged everyone to focus on facts and evidence.
However, pressure for cancellation – which included calls from Republican lawmakers – became too much and Mnuchin decided Thursday to step down. On Thursday morning, he still did not know when he would still go to Riyadh, where he also planned to visit the Terrorism Financing and Targeting Center, a joint initiative of the United States, Saudi Arabia. and other Gulf countries unveiled a year ago.
The decision came after Mnuchin met with President Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the White House on Thursday morning, according to a Treasury spokesman. The three men collectively decided that the withdrawal was the appropriate decision, even though the spokesperson did not want to know whether Mr. Mnuchin had been informed of new information influencing the decision.
Mr Mnuchin 's withdrawal was announced less than an hour after Mr Pompeo told reporters that he had made it clear to the royal rulers of Saudi Arabia, during a trip. in Riyadh this week that the United States was taking seriously the circumstances surrounding Mr. Khashoggi.
Mr. Pompeo, former C.I.A. Director, described the case as "the disappearance of Mr. Khashoggi" – a stark contrast to a More and more US intelligence agencies say the Washington Post columnist was killed and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia was guilty of killing him.
The Saudi leaders "assured me that they would conduct a thorough and thorough investigation into all the facts surrounding Mr. Khashoggi and that they would do so quickly," Pompeo told reporters at the press. White House. he informed the president of his meetings in Riyadh. He said the Saudi report would be "transparent for everyone to see, ask about and acquire."
In general, reports on national security issues are very much redacted, if published. Mr. Pompeo also reminded journalists of America's long-standing "strategic" relationship with the Saudis, which dates back to 1932. He added that the kingdom remained an "important partner in the fight against terrorism."
After so many other foreign leaders and officials canceled their intention to attend the conference, Mr Mnuchin's presence proved to be a litmus test for the US-based commitment. United in favor of human rights. Mr. Trump and Mr. Pompeo emphasized that the strategic economic relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia goes back several decades and that it should not be upset by the disappearance of Mr. Khashoggi.
Trump also insisted that the Saudis are spending hundreds of millions of dollars to buy US-made military equipment and said he does not want to do anything that could cost American jobs.
Former Treasury officials and friends of Mr. Mnuchin have closely watched the progress of the conference and many have spoken frankly of his need to withdraw.
While the media described gruesome audio recordings purporting to portray Mr. Khashoggi's dismemberment, Mr. Mnuchin was taken to task by Republican lawmakers such as Senators Marco Rubio of Florida and Jeff Flake of Arizona, as well as several famous democrats.
Former Treasury Secretary Paul H. O'Neill, who served under George W. Bush's administration, described Mr. Mnuchin's presence in the circumstances as ridiculous.
