Secretary of State Mike Pompeo continued to defend the Trump administration's response to the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi on Wednesday in a closed-door briefing with Senators in Washington D.C., according to CNN.
Pompeo said there is "no direct reporting" connecting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the killing which occurred on Oct. 2 after the Washington Post columnist entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain documents for his wedding.
Pompeo and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis emphasized the importance of Riyadh as an ally in the Middle East amid growing concerns from bipartisan Senators about the conflict in Yemen and the response to the Khashoggi murder.
The original purpose of Wednesday's briefing was to discuss Washington's role in Yemen, particularly since momentum was growing behind a resolution which would cut off U.S. military aid to Saudi Arabia in the war which has killed tens of thousands and risks millions being plunged into famine.
The Trump administration opposes the resolution but both Democrat and Republican Senators pushed for more details on the Khashoggi case, with many expressing disappointment and anger over the absence of CIA Director Gina Haspel from the briefing.
Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) said it was "outrageous" Haspel was not sent to the briefing and her absence, "tells me volumes about what's really going on here."
Republican Sen. Cory Gardner of Colorado said "it would be nice" if Haspel had participated in the briefing since "there are certainly members who are weighing the absence of the CIA director in how they will vote."
After reporters pressed Pompeo why Haspel was not present at the meeting, he would only reply: "I was asked to be here and here I am."
Both Pompeo and Mattis delivered prepared remarks which asked Senators not to abandon U.S. involvement in the Yemen conflict.
"I know many of you think it's time to pack up and abandon the role we've been playing since the previous administration. I'm here to tell you why that's a bad call," Pompeo said. "The more support from you we get, the better chance we have of ending the conflict and stopping the suffering that none of us are happy about."
Pompeo said it was imperative the U.S. continued to "assist the Saudis and the Emiratis in their fight against Iranian-backed Houthi Fighters" and help fight al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and "protect Americans working in Saudi Arabia or transiting the strategic waterways around Yemen."
Mattis said Washington's "security interests cannot be dismissed, even as we seek accountability for what President Trump described as the 'unacceptable and horrible crime' of Jamal Khashoggi's murder, a crime which 'our country does not condone.'"
"We must maintain our twin requirements of holding those responsible for the murder to account, while recognizing the reality of Saudi Arabia as a necessary strategic partner. We cannot be deflected from using all our influence to end this war for the good of innocent people in trouble, and ultimately the safety of our own people, and this includes our military engagement," he said.
While the Yemen resolution holds an uncertain future in the current Republican-controlled House, it is on the verge of passing in the Senate due to growing concerns about the Trump administration's relationship with Saudi Arabia.
A vote could occur as soon as Wednesday afternoon.
Sen. Christopher Coons (D-DE) previously voted against the resolution to end support for the Saudi-led coalition in March, but said he would vote yes this time "to send a clear and strong signal to our close ally Saudi Arabia that actions that violate core values have consequences."
“I don’t think the administration won any votes, won over any troubled Republicans in that briefing,” Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT.) said.
Sen. Murphy said he was "more confident" after the briefing the resolution would have enough votes to pass.
House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) avoided placing blame on Riyadh for Khashoggi's murder or assigning them blame for the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Yemen while talking to reporters on Wednesday.
-WN.com, Maureen Foody
Photo:
AP / Jacquelyn Martin