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Congressman Krishnamoorthi Calls On Trump Administration To Provide Congress With Intelligence On Saudi Plot Against Jamal Khashoggi And Jared Kushner’s Communications With The Prince Who Ordered It

October 11, 2018

SCHAUMBURG, IL — Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi issued the following statement in response to reports of US intelligence agencies having prior knowledge of the Saudi Arabian government's plot against journalist Jamal Khashoggi:

"While the State Department claims the United States had no prior knowledge of Jamal Khashoggi's disappearance, it is essential that we put to bed any rumors that could compromise us, our allies, or global recognition of our commitment to human rights and protecting journalists. For this reason, I'm calling on the Administration to provide Congress with a full briefing on any intelligence surrounding Mr. Khashoggi's disappearance, detention, and possible assassination. This briefing must also include any communications by Senior White House Advisor Jared Kushner to the Saudi government and its leaders. In March of this year, it was reported that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman bragged that Mr. Kushner was ‘in his pocket.' If Mr. Kushner passed any intelligence regarding Mr. Khashoggi to the Saudis, Congress must know before this dispute spirals out of control. Sources and methods must be preserved, but so too must the credibility of the United States.

In 2015, the United States established the ‘duty to warn' directive, a policy asserting the duty of American intelligence agencies to warn to non-combatants who are likely to be kidnapped, seriously injured or killed so long as it doesn't threaten American or allied operations. If there was no prior knowledge of this plot or how it would have damaged our intelligence operations, then a Congressional review will reaffirm that reality. If the Trump administration abandoned the ‘duty to warn' as a blanket policy or, in this instance, as a result of the Trump White House's or Senior White House Advisor Jared Kushner's close ties to Prince Mohammad bin Salman, Congress must reveal the truth.

If Republican leaders in Congress fail to investigate this disturbing incident, Democrats must, and in three months, we may well have the gavels to do exactly that."