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Khashoggi murder: Saudi crown prince crazy, says US senator Khashoggi murder: Saudi crown prince crazy, says US senator
(35 minutes later)
US senators say they are confident the Saudi crown prince was linked to the murder of a Saudi journalist, following a private CIA briefing. US senators say they are more certain than ever after a private CIA briefing that the Saudi crown prince had a role in the murder of a journalist.
Senator Lindsey Graham said he had "high confidence" Mohammed bin Salman knew in advance about the killing of Jamal Khashoggi. In a blistering attack, Senator Lindsey Graham said he had "high confidence" Mohammed bin Salman was complicit in the killing of Jamal Khashoggi.
The South Carolina Republican described the Saudi royal as "a wrecking ball" and "crazy" and "dangerous". The South Carolina Republican described the Saudi royal as "a wrecking ball", "crazy" and "dangerous".
The Saudis have charged 11 people but deny the crown prince was involved.The Saudis have charged 11 people but deny the crown prince was involved.
CIA Director Gina Haspel spoke to Senate leaders earlier on Tuesday.
She was absent from last week's briefing by the secretaries of state and defence, angering some in Congress.
Khashoggi was killed in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October. The CIA has concluded Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman "probably ordered" the killing.
The CIA has evidence he exchanged messages with Saud al-Qahtani, who allegedly oversaw the murder.
But Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defence Secretary James Mattis told senators last week there was no direct evidence of the crown prince's involvement.
President Donald Trump has said the CIA findings on the crown prince were not conclusive. On 20 November he said: "It could very well be that the crown prince had knowledge of this tragic event - maybe he did and maybe he didn't."
What did senators say?What did senators say?
Influential members of the Senate's Committee on Foreign Relations did not mince words after the CIA briefing on Tuesday. Members of the Senate's Committee on Foreign Relations did not mince words after the briefing by CIA Director Gina Haspel on Tuesday.
"You have to be wilfully blind not to come to the conclusion that this was orchestrated and organised by people under the command of MBS," Mr Graham said, using the crown prince's initials."You have to be wilfully blind not to come to the conclusion that this was orchestrated and organised by people under the command of MBS," Mr Graham said, using the crown prince's initials.
The senator said he could not support arms sales to Saudi Arabia as long as the Saudi crown prince remained in power, or the kingdom's war in Yemen. The senator said he could not support Saudi Arabia's border war with Yemen or arms sales to Riyadh as long as the crown prince remained in power.
"There is not a smoking gun - there is a smoking saw," the senator added, referring to Khashoggi's alleged dismemberment. "There is not a smoking gun - there is a smoking saw," the senator added, referring to Khashoggi's alleged dismemberment in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October.
Senator Bob Menendez, a Democrat, told reporters he was "now more convinced than I was before" that the crown prince was complicit. Senator Bob Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat, told reporters he was "now more convinced than I was before" that the crown prince was culpable in the journalist's slaying.
He said the US must "send a clear and unequivocal message that such actions are not acceptable in the world's stage".He said the US must "send a clear and unequivocal message that such actions are not acceptable in the world's stage".
Mr Menendez added that he was cosponsoring bipartisan legislation that would impose sanctions against anyone found responsible.
Another senator, Bob Corker, told reporters: "I have zero question on my mind that the crown prince MBS ordered the killing."Another senator, Bob Corker, told reporters: "I have zero question on my mind that the crown prince MBS ordered the killing."
The Tennessee Republican added: "If he [Mohammed bin Salman] was in front of a jury he would be convicted in 30 minutes. Guilty."The Tennessee Republican added: "If he [Mohammed bin Salman] was in front of a jury he would be convicted in 30 minutes. Guilty."
Mr Corker suggested that President Donald Trump was condoning the murder of a journalist by refusing to condemn the Saudi crown prince. Mr Corker suggested that President Donald Trump had condoned the murder of a journalist by refusing to condemn the Saudi crown prince.
Fellow Republican senator Richard Shelby said "somebody" should be punished. Fellow Republican senator Richard Shelby of Alabama said: "Now the question is, how do you separate the Saudi crown prince and his group from the nation?"
"Now the question is, how do you separate the Saudi crown prince and his group from the nation?" The Senate is planning to vote on a proposal to end US military involvement in Yemen, after members of both parties advanced the resolution last week.
What has the CIA said?
The CIA has concluded Mohammed bin Salman "probably ordered" the killing of Khashoggi
The spy agency has evidence he exchanged messages with Saud al-Qahtani, who allegedly oversaw the Saudi reporter's murder.
The CIA director was absent from a recent congressional briefing by cabinet members.
Last week, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defence Secretary James Mattis told senators there was no direct evidence of the crown prince's involvement in Khashoggi's death.
President Donald Trump has said the CIA findings on the crown prince were not conclusive.
On 20 November he said: "It could very well be that the crown prince had knowledge of this tragic event - maybe he did and maybe he didn't."
Who was Jamal Khashoggi?Who was Jamal Khashoggi?
As a prominent journalist, he covered major stories including the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the rise of Osama Bin Laden for various Saudi news organisations.As a prominent journalist, he covered major stories including the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the rise of Osama Bin Laden for various Saudi news organisations.
For decades he was close to the Saudi royal family and also served as an adviser to the government. For decades the US resident was close to the Saudi royal family and also served as an adviser to the government.
But he fell out of favour and went into self-imposed exile in the US last year. From there, he wrote a monthly column in the Washington Post in which he criticised the policies of Mohammed bin Salman.But he fell out of favour and went into self-imposed exile in the US last year. From there, he wrote a monthly column in the Washington Post in which he criticised the policies of Mohammed bin Salman.