Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker introduced a resolution Thursday blaming the Saudi crown prince for the murder of dissident Jamal Khashoggi and calling for less U.S. support in the Yemen civil war.
Corker, R-Tenn., introduced the measure as senators debated a resolution invoking the War Powers Act to end all U.S. support of Saudi-led air strikes in Yemen.
That measure is expected to pass Thursday afternoon, but it can go nowhere in the House this year and would have faced a near-certain veto from President Trump.
Corker’s resolution is an effort to enable the Senate to send a message to both the Saudi crown prince and President Trump, who angered both Republicans and Democrats by refusing to rebuke Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman for Khashoggi’s death.
The measure holds that the Senate “believes Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is responsible for the murder of Jamal Khashoggi,” and it calls for the Saudi government “to ensure appropriate accountability for all those responsible” for his death.
The measure also calls on the Saudi government to release a group of jailed political activists, including Saudi women’s rights advocates arrested this year.
Lawmakers are eager to take action regarding Yemen, where a severe humanitarian crisis is underway as a result of the civil war between the Saudi-led coalition and Iran-backed Houthis.
The United States has ceased providing air refueling of Saudi planes and the resolution endorses that move.
The resolution is backed by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and is expected to win significant bipartisan support.
