US Congress must consider sanctioning anyone involved in the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in light of Saudi Arabia's implausible explanation about its role in the incident and the White House's failure to act, Senator Dianne Feinstein said in a statement on Wednesday.
WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 18th October, 2018) US Congress must consider sanctioning anyone involved in the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in light of Saudi Arabia's implausible explanation about its role in the incident and the White House's failure to act, Senator Dianne Feinstein said in a statement on Wednesday.
"Saudi Arabia, despite initially stating it was not involved, may now claim that Khashoggi's death was the result of an interrogation gone wrong. That explanation is hardly believable," Feinstein said in a Twitter post. "If the White House continues to refuse to act, Congress... must seriously consider sanctions against anyone involved in Khashoggi's disappearance."
Saudi Arabia is allegedly preparing to admit that Khashoggi died during a botched interrogation, CNN reported on Monday citing two unnamed sources, one of whom cautioned that the report could change.
Feinstein also urged the administration to halt pending arms sales to Riyadh and support for the Saudi war in Yemen. The United States, she added, can no longer remain silent in the face of such brazen human rights violations.
"Saudi Arabia was once one of our closest allies in the middle East," Feinstein said. "I am no longer sure that should be the case."
Turkish authorities have said they have audio and video recordings proving that Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist, was killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul earlier this month. On Tuesday, the New York Times reported that Turkish authorities have been able to identify by name five of 15 suspects allegedly involved in Khashoggi's death, four of whom have ties to the Saudi government.
