US senators plan to condemn Saudi crown prince for death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi

The US Senate may formally condemn Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi before the end of the year, if no one stands in the way of the outgoing Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman’s plan to expedite a vote to do so on the floor.

Republican Senator Bob Corker said he would to seek on Tuesday to have the Senate vote on a measure holding the crown prince responsible for the killing of Khashoggi and calling on him to cease other aggressive Saudi policies in the Persian Gulf, including its military campaign in Yemen, blockade of Qatar, and incarceration of human rights activists.

While the measure is nonbinding, it would serve as a rebuke of President Donald Trump, who has refused to blame Mohammed for the killing – breaking with the findings of the CIA and angering many in Congress, even his allies, for prioritising weapons sales and other transactions with Saudi Arabia over American values.

“While this does not affect policy … it’s a pretty strong statement for the United States to be making, assuming we can get a vote on it,” Corker said, noting that condemning Mohammed was an especially bold move by Republicans.

Republicans have so far struggled to find a common outlet to express their frustration with Trump’s response to the Khashoggi killing.