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Report finds Saudi crown prince approved killing of Jamal Khashoggi – live | Report finds Saudi crown prince approved killing of Jamal Khashoggi – live |
(32 minutes later) | |
Report released by Office of the Director of National Intelligence says Mohammed bin Salman approved killing of Washington Post columnist | Report released by Office of the Director of National Intelligence says Mohammed bin Salman approved killing of Washington Post columnist |
As Joe Biden and Jill Biden go about their engagements in Texas, here is some more reporting from Reuters, including some interesting comments that went down on Air Force One en route from the capital to Houston. | |
The Guardian further notes that Abbott took aim at renewable energy during the big freeze, even though the worst problem was frozen natural gas pipes, not frozen windmills. There was a trait during the disaster of state officials and business leaders seeming to do more finger-pointing than finger-lifting to help people. We won’t even relive the details of right-wing Senator Ted Cruz’s Cancun jaunt here... | |
And Abbott then managed to ask the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Biden to issue a major disaster declaration for all of the state’s 254 counties. | |
Joe Biden has arrived in Texas. Air Force One touched down in Houston in the last hour. The president plans to tour areas that suffered winter storm damage in the Arctic conditions that engulfed the Lone Star state last week. | |
The presidential motorcade rolled to the Harris County Office of Emergency Management. | |
My colleague Erum Salam just emerged from that miserable and, for too many, deadly deep freeze. | |
Secretary of state Antony Blinken is issuing details of a new policy that will allow the US state department to act against individuals, such as the Saudi government operatives who killed Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul, who directly engage in serious, extraterritorial counter-dissident activities. | Secretary of state Antony Blinken is issuing details of a new policy that will allow the US state department to act against individuals, such as the Saudi government operatives who killed Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul, who directly engage in serious, extraterritorial counter-dissident activities. |
My colleague Julian Borger notes as such. | My colleague Julian Borger notes as such. |
A statement issued by Blinken notes that “the world was horrified by the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a lawful permanent resident of the United States, in the Saudi Arabian Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey” in October 2018. | A statement issued by Blinken notes that “the world was horrified by the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a lawful permanent resident of the United States, in the Saudi Arabian Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey” in October 2018. |
He goes on: “Individuals should be able to exercise their human rights and fundamental freedoms without fear of government retribution, retaliation, punishment, or harm. | He goes on: “Individuals should be able to exercise their human rights and fundamental freedoms without fear of government retribution, retaliation, punishment, or harm. |
“Jamal Khashoggi paid with his life to express his beliefs. President Biden said in a statement released last October on the second anniversary of the murder that Mr. Khashoggi’s death would not be in vain, and that we owe it to his memory to fight for a more just and free world.” | “Jamal Khashoggi paid with his life to express his beliefs. President Biden said in a statement released last October on the second anniversary of the murder that Mr. Khashoggi’s death would not be in vain, and that we owe it to his memory to fight for a more just and free world.” |
In announcing what the department is calling the Khashoggi Ban, Blinken added that the government “is announcing additional measures to reinforce the world’s condemnation of that crime, and to push back against governments that reach beyond their borders to threaten and attack journalists and perceived dissidents for exercising their fundamental freedoms.” | In announcing what the department is calling the Khashoggi Ban, Blinken added that the government “is announcing additional measures to reinforce the world’s condemnation of that crime, and to push back against governments that reach beyond their borders to threaten and attack journalists and perceived dissidents for exercising their fundamental freedoms.” |
Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, the ban allows the State Department to impose visa restrictions on individuals who, “acting on behalf of a foreign government, are believed to have been directly engaged in serious, extraterritorial counter-dissident activities, including those that suppress, harass, surveil, threaten, or harm journalists, activists, or other persons perceived to be dissidents for their work, or who engage in such activities with respect to the families or other close associates of such persons.” | Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, the ban allows the State Department to impose visa restrictions on individuals who, “acting on behalf of a foreign government, are believed to have been directly engaged in serious, extraterritorial counter-dissident activities, including those that suppress, harass, surveil, threaten, or harm journalists, activists, or other persons perceived to be dissidents for their work, or who engage in such activities with respect to the families or other close associates of such persons.” |
Aboard Air Force One, Psaki answered a handful of questions related to Khashoggi’s murder. | Aboard Air Force One, Psaki answered a handful of questions related to Khashoggi’s murder. |
Asked if Biden raised the report in his call with the Saudi King earlier this week, Psaki referred to a readout, which said he raised the war in Yemen and concerns over human rights abuses. | Asked if Biden raised the report in his call with the Saudi King earlier this week, Psaki referred to a readout, which said he raised the war in Yemen and concerns over human rights abuses. |
Asked if Biden had concerns about MBS being in line to succeed King Salman, Psaki said that was a matter for the government of Saudi Arabia. “The president has been clear, and we’ve been clear by our actions that we’re going to recalibrate the relationship, including ensuring that engagement happens counterpart to counterpart,” she added. | Asked if Biden had concerns about MBS being in line to succeed King Salman, Psaki said that was a matter for the government of Saudi Arabia. “The president has been clear, and we’ve been clear by our actions that we’re going to recalibrate the relationship, including ensuring that engagement happens counterpart to counterpart,” she added. |
Asked whether the state department was weighing sanctions in response Khashoggi’s killing, she replied: “We’ve been clear at every level that our intention is to recalibrate the relationship and this will be a different relationship with the Saudi government. At the same time, we of course we want to end the war in Yemen, we want to ensure that humanitarian crisis is addressed and the president and every member of our team is not going to hold back in voicing concern, and taking action as needed. | Asked whether the state department was weighing sanctions in response Khashoggi’s killing, she replied: “We’ve been clear at every level that our intention is to recalibrate the relationship and this will be a different relationship with the Saudi government. At the same time, we of course we want to end the war in Yemen, we want to ensure that humanitarian crisis is addressed and the president and every member of our team is not going to hold back in voicing concern, and taking action as needed. |
She told reporters to “stay tuned” for announcements about further actions the administration will take in response to the report’s findings. | She told reporters to “stay tuned” for announcements about further actions the administration will take in response to the report’s findings. |
More news is trickling out about how the US intends to respond to the intelligence report implicating the Saudi crown prince in the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. | More news is trickling out about how the US intends to respond to the intelligence report implicating the Saudi crown prince in the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. |
According to Politico, the Treasury will unveil sanctions today targeting top Saudi officials for their involvement in Khashoggi’s assassination. However, the prince is not expected to be sanctioned despite the report’s conclusion that he approved of the plot to “capture or kill” Khashoggi. | According to Politico, the Treasury will unveil sanctions today targeting top Saudi officials for their involvement in Khashoggi’s assassination. However, the prince is not expected to be sanctioned despite the report’s conclusion that he approved of the plot to “capture or kill” Khashoggi. |
The State Department is expected to make an announcement later this afternoon. | The State Department is expected to make an announcement later this afternoon. |
The State Department has identified 76 Saudi Arabian individuals who may be subject to sanctions under what it is calling the “Khashoggi policy,” according to Bloomberg News. | The State Department has identified 76 Saudi Arabian individuals who may be subject to sanctions under what it is calling the “Khashoggi policy,” according to Bloomberg News. |
The State Department outlined the new policy in a fact sheet sent to lawmakers but not yet released publicly, according to Bloomberg. It part of an effort to hold accountable individuals involved in Khashoggi’s death. | The State Department outlined the new policy in a fact sheet sent to lawmakers but not yet released publicly, according to Bloomberg. It part of an effort to hold accountable individuals involved in Khashoggi’s death. |
The new policy, according to a copy of the fact sheet, would “impose visa restrictions on individuals who, acting on behalf of a foreign government, are believed to have been directly engaged in serious, extraterritorial counter-dissident activities.” | The new policy, according to a copy of the fact sheet, would “impose visa restrictions on individuals who, acting on behalf of a foreign government, are believed to have been directly engaged in serious, extraterritorial counter-dissident activities.” |
The Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, approved the 2018 killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, according to an unclassified report released by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) on Friday. | The Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, approved the 2018 killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, according to an unclassified report released by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) on Friday. |
“We assess that Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman approved an operation in Istanbul, Turkey to capture or kill Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi,” ODNI said in a partly-redacted four-page summary. | “We assess that Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman approved an operation in Istanbul, Turkey to capture or kill Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi,” ODNI said in a partly-redacted four-page summary. |
It based the assessment on the 35-year-old prince’s “control of decision-making in the kingdom, the direct involvement of a key adviser and members of [the prince’s] protective detail in the operation, and [his] support for the using violent measures to silence dissidents abroad, including Khashoggi”. | It based the assessment on the 35-year-old prince’s “control of decision-making in the kingdom, the direct involvement of a key adviser and members of [the prince’s] protective detail in the operation, and [his] support for the using violent measures to silence dissidents abroad, including Khashoggi”. |
“Since 2017, the Crown Prince has had absolute control of the Kingdom’s security and intelligence organizations, making it highly unlikely that Saudi officials would have carried out an operation of this nature without the Crown Prince’s authorization,” the report states. | “Since 2017, the Crown Prince has had absolute control of the Kingdom’s security and intelligence organizations, making it highly unlikely that Saudi officials would have carried out an operation of this nature without the Crown Prince’s authorization,” the report states. |
The release of the assessment was expected to be accompanied by further actions from the Biden administration. | The release of the assessment was expected to be accompanied by further actions from the Biden administration. |
Read the summary in full here [PDF]. | Read the summary in full here [PDF]. |
White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters aboard Air Force One that the Director of National Intelligence would release the long-awaited intelligence report on the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi on Friday. | White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters aboard Air Force One that the Director of National Intelligence would release the long-awaited intelligence report on the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi on Friday. |
House minority leader Kevin McCarthy is holding a briefing with reporters before the chamber votes on Biden’s stimulus package later today. | House minority leader Kevin McCarthy is holding a briefing with reporters before the chamber votes on Biden’s stimulus package later today. |
House Republicans are urging the caucus to vote “no” on the legislation, assailing it as too costly and a progressive “payoff”. | House Republicans are urging the caucus to vote “no” on the legislation, assailing it as too costly and a progressive “payoff”. |
During the briefing, he called workaround plans to target big companies that don’t pay workers $15 an hour “stupid.” | During the briefing, he called workaround plans to target big companies that don’t pay workers $15 an hour “stupid.” |
Asked about his recent conversations with Trump, McCarthy said he had not secured a commitment from the former president not to back primaries against Republicans who broke with him. | Asked about his recent conversations with Trump, McCarthy said he had not secured a commitment from the former president not to back primaries against Republicans who broke with him. |
Among those Republicans is Liz Cheney of Wyoming, who has drawn conservative ire over her vote to impeach Trump. Though Cheney easily beat back an attempt to strip her of her leadership position, she already faces several primary challengers. | Among those Republicans is Liz Cheney of Wyoming, who has drawn conservative ire over her vote to impeach Trump. Though Cheney easily beat back an attempt to strip her of her leadership position, she already faces several primary challengers. |
Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell has said he would help Cheney in her election. Asked if he planned to do the same, McCarthy said evasively that Cheney hadn’t asked yet for his help. | Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell has said he would help Cheney in her election. Asked if he planned to do the same, McCarthy said evasively that Cheney hadn’t asked yet for his help. |
But she shouldn’t have to ask. It has long been the policy of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) to back incumbents in their primaries. | But she shouldn’t have to ask. It has long been the policy of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) to back incumbents in their primaries. |
Some progressives have called on Senators to “overrule” or even fire the Senate parliamentarian after she determined that a proposed $15-an-hour minimum-wage increase must be stripped from Biden’s covid relief bill. | Some progressives have called on Senators to “overrule” or even fire the Senate parliamentarian after she determined that a proposed $15-an-hour minimum-wage increase must be stripped from Biden’s covid relief bill. |
But the White House has said vice president Kamala Harris – who would cast the tie-breaking vote in an evenly split Senate – has no intention of overruling the parliamentarian. | But the White House has said vice president Kamala Harris – who would cast the tie-breaking vote in an evenly split Senate – has no intention of overruling the parliamentarian. |
Yet even if the White House was willing to challenge the ruling, it’s not certain Harris would have the chance to do so. At least two Democratic senators have said they did not support legislation raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour and Harris only votes if there is a tie to break. | Yet even if the White House was willing to challenge the ruling, it’s not certain Harris would have the chance to do so. At least two Democratic senators have said they did not support legislation raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour and Harris only votes if there is a tie to break. |
Guardian bureau chief David Smith sends another virtual dispatch from CPAC, where Republican senator Ted Cruz just left the stage. | Guardian bureau chief David Smith sends another virtual dispatch from CPAC, where Republican senator Ted Cruz just left the stage. |
Cruz has joked about his disastrous decision last week to fly to Cancun, Mexico, for a family holiday as people struggled for food and warmth following a snowstorm in his home state of Texas. | Cruz has joked about his disastrous decision last week to fly to Cancun, Mexico, for a family holiday as people struggled for food and warmth following a snowstorm in his home state of Texas. |
“Orlando is awesome,” Cruz told CPAC in Orlando, Florida. “It’s not as nice as Cancun, but it’s nice.”The senator went on to rail against “cancel culture”, coronavirus restrictions in restaurants and the “shrill” and “angry” left in speech that earned laugher and applause. He paid tribute to late rightwing radio host Rush Limbaugh and mixed in references to Saturday Night Live, Star Wars, Star Trek and the Mel Gibson film Braveheart.“We’re gathered at a time where the hard left, where the socialists control the levers of government, where they control the White House, where they control every executive branch, where they control both houses of Congress,” Cruz said.“Bernie [Sanders] is wearing mittens and AOC [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez] is telling us she was ‘murdered’.” Cruz put a shrill emphasis on the word “murdered” to mock the Democratic congresswoman who has told how she feared for her life during the insurrection at the US Capitol on 6 January.He went on: “And the media desperately, desperately, desperately wants to see a Republican civil war. Liberty is under assault and what are we going to do? I’ll tell you, we will fight.”Cruz was among the most prominent Senate Republicans who voted to challenge the result of the 2020 election. He issued a warning to members of his own party who want to “erase the last four years” and banish Trump’s “Make America great again” movement.“They look at Donald Trump and they look at the millions and millions of people inspired who went to the battle fighting alongside President Trump, and they’re terrified and they want him to go away. Let me tell you this right now: Donald J Trump ain’t going anywhere.”That promise got the biggest applause of his speech. Cruz went on: “The Republican Party is not the party just of the country club. The Republican Party is the party of steel workers and construction workers and pipeline workers and taxi cab drivers and cops and firefighters and waiters and waitresses and the men and women with calluses on their hands who are working for this country“That is our party. And these ‘deplorables’ are here to say.” | “Orlando is awesome,” Cruz told CPAC in Orlando, Florida. “It’s not as nice as Cancun, but it’s nice.”The senator went on to rail against “cancel culture”, coronavirus restrictions in restaurants and the “shrill” and “angry” left in speech that earned laugher and applause. He paid tribute to late rightwing radio host Rush Limbaugh and mixed in references to Saturday Night Live, Star Wars, Star Trek and the Mel Gibson film Braveheart.“We’re gathered at a time where the hard left, where the socialists control the levers of government, where they control the White House, where they control every executive branch, where they control both houses of Congress,” Cruz said.“Bernie [Sanders] is wearing mittens and AOC [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez] is telling us she was ‘murdered’.” Cruz put a shrill emphasis on the word “murdered” to mock the Democratic congresswoman who has told how she feared for her life during the insurrection at the US Capitol on 6 January.He went on: “And the media desperately, desperately, desperately wants to see a Republican civil war. Liberty is under assault and what are we going to do? I’ll tell you, we will fight.”Cruz was among the most prominent Senate Republicans who voted to challenge the result of the 2020 election. He issued a warning to members of his own party who want to “erase the last four years” and banish Trump’s “Make America great again” movement.“They look at Donald Trump and they look at the millions and millions of people inspired who went to the battle fighting alongside President Trump, and they’re terrified and they want him to go away. Let me tell you this right now: Donald J Trump ain’t going anywhere.”That promise got the biggest applause of his speech. Cruz went on: “The Republican Party is not the party just of the country club. The Republican Party is the party of steel workers and construction workers and pipeline workers and taxi cab drivers and cops and firefighters and waiters and waitresses and the men and women with calluses on their hands who are working for this country“That is our party. And these ‘deplorables’ are here to say.” |