Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., on Tuesday called on CIA Director Gina Haspel to brief the full Senate on the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, following her meeting about it with about a dozen senators.
In a statement, the Senate Democratic leader called for a “strong response” to Khashoggi’s death as questions still swirl around the involvement of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in his death. Khashoggi was killed in Istanbul on Oct. 2 at the Saudi consulate, in what many believe was a directive from the crown prince.
“While I will not discuss the content of the Haspel briefing, it reinforced the need for a strong response to the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. CIA Director Haspel should brief the full Senate without delay,” Schumer said.
Haspel briefed the likes of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Schumer, as well as chairmen and ranking members on various committees.
Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., said after the meeting that it was clear from the briefing the crown prince was involved in the murder, adding that he would be deemed “guilty” in a court of law.
“Let me just put it this way. I think if he was in front of a jury, he would have a unanimous verdict in about 30 minutes. Guilty. A guilty verdict,” said Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “He murdered him. No question in my mind. I had almost no question before. I have no question whatsoever now… that the crown prince directed the murder and was kept apprised of the situation all the way through.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who also attended the briefing, said there’s “not a smoking gun — there’s a smoking saw.”
The comments come in stark contrast to remarks from President Trump, who has questioned the CIA’s conclusions regarding Khashoggi’s death.
