FBI: Saudi government 'almost certainly' helps citizens accused of serious crimes escape from US

Nicholas Wu | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Jamal Khashoggi killing: Saudi Arabian court sentences 5 to death The court issued the sentences for the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, who was murdered in Istanbul by a team of Saudi agents.

According to a newly released and declassified eight-page memo from the FBI, the government of Saudi Arabia "almost certainly" helps its citizens accused of serious crimes flee from the United States.

Most of the document is redacted, but the FBI said the Saudi government "undermines the U.S. judicial process" by assisting with the escape of citizens accused of offenses ranging from traffic violations to more serious felonies like "rape, child pornography, and manslaughter."

It said it made the assessment of the issue with "high confidence."

The Saudi government does this, the FBI claimed, to avoid the embarrassment of "Saudi citizens enduring the U.S. judicial process" and is not likely to change the practice without pressure from the U.S.

The documents were released as part of a request to the FBI by Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, both Democrats from Oregon. In response to investigative reporting from the Oregonian, Wyden sponsored legislation requiring the FBI to reveal information about Saudi assistance of fugitives. The bill became law in December.

Impeachment week ahead: House, Trump to file written arguments before Senate trial resumes Tuesday

More: President Trump's impeachment: What are the steps in the Senate trial

The Oregonian estimated that about two dozen Saudi citizens accused of serious crimes have fled the U.S.

The White House and State Department referred questions to the Department of Justice and the FBI. The FBI said it had no further comment on the materials already released to Congress.

If Saudi citizens accused of crimes end up fleeing, it's difficult for the U.S. to bring them to justice since the Saudi government and the U.S. government do not have an extradition treaty.

Merkley accused the Trump administration of "stonewalling" information requests and of failing to press the issue with the Saudi government.

“The Saudi Government is almost certainly helping its citizens escape American justice, while the Trump administration sits on its hands,” Wyden said in a statement.

More: President Trump's impeachment: What are the steps in the Senate trial

"The FBI also made clear that the Saudis won’t change their behavior without direct engagement from the U.S. government – engagement that needs to happen at senior levels until justice is served," Merkley said. "We’re going to keep pushing for answers and accountability, and to make it clear to the Saudi government that we will not allow Saudis to bypass our laws.”