Sen. Angus King Angus KingHopes for DC, Puerto Rico statehood rise Government watchdog recommends creation of White House cyber director position Democrats step up hardball tactics as Supreme Court fight heats up MORE (I-Maine) said Sunday that the Trump administration is "giving a pass to dictators around the world" by not punishing Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

King said during an interview on CBS's "Face the Nation" that Trump's statement last week on Saudi Arabia, which reaffirmed the U.S. alliance with the kingdom, "was amazing because it made it sound easy."

"It basically said, ‘We’ve got an important relationship with Saudi Arabia, therefore we’re going to turn a blind eye to this.’ It’s not that easy," King said.

“We do have to make these difficult decisions, but so far what they’re doing is giving a pass to this guy, and I think it gives a pass to dictators around the world," he added. "That’s the danger. It undermines our values and the authority of our values across the planet.”

.@SenAngusKing on the @realDonaldTrump administration’s response to Saudi Arabia in the aftermath of Jamal Khashoggi’s death: So far what they’re doing is giving a pass to this guy, and I think it gives a pass to dictators around the world. pic.twitter.com/amJcpD54yH — Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) November 25, 2018

President Trump Donald John TrumpSteele Dossier sub-source was subject of FBI counterintelligence probe Pelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Trump 'no longer angry' at Romney because of Supreme Court stance MORE has repeatedly cast doubt on whether the crown prince knew in advance of the plot to kill Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist who was killed in the Saudi consulate in Turkey, and said last week that the U.S. would maintain a "steadfast" relationship with Saudi Arabia despite the murder.

He justified that decision by noting the Saudi kingdom's influence over oil markets and that the Saudis buy weapons from the U.S.

Trump also said in the statement that the crown prince may have ordered the killing of Khashoggi, but added that "maybe he didn't."

King said Sunday on "Face the Nation" that it's "pretty clear" that the crown prince was involved.

“You don’t have to be the CIA to put things together and say, ‘how could this have happened without the prince being involved?’ He’s in total control," King said.