Sen. Lindsey Graham said he feels “betrayed” by Saudi Arabia because of their suspected involvement in the disappearance and murder of Saudi dissident and U.S. resident Jamal Khashoggi.
“I’m hoping to make them pay a price. I’ve been the leading advocate for this relationship,” Graham told the Daily Signal in an interview taped Tuesday and aired Thursday. “ I have supported the Saudi partnership. I’ve never felt more betrayed.”
Graham, R-S.C., said he has fought to keep U.S.-Saudi Arabia relationships good by advocating for continued arms sales to the country to help fight Iran proxies in Yemen, and ensuring 9/11 lawsuits wouldn’t destroy the partnership. But he said Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman took a “wrecking ball” to the relationship.
“I am convinced that this happened at the direction of the Saudi government,” Graham said. “That teams of assassins were sent to the consulate.”
Khashoggi entered the consulate in Istanbul Oct. 2 to obtain the required paperwork to marry his Turkish fiancee, but he has not been seen since. Turkish media reports say he was murdered there by Saudi agents.
President Trump spoke with Saudi King Salman earlier this week and said the leader claims not to have any knowledge of the whereabouts or condition of Khashoggi.
“Every norm that we believe in, which is freedom of expression, journalism, free speech, independent press — all that was ignored. It shows contempt for us as a partner,” Graham said. “President Trump might not see it this way, but it shows disrespect to him. Name one president that’s been better to Saudi Arabia.”
Khashoggi was a columnist for the Washington Post, a dissident of Saudi Arabia, and a permanent green card-holding resident of the U.S.
