***Press Release***

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 18, 2018 Contact: Kate Stotesbery 202-225-4865

House Members Call for Sanctions After Jamal Khashoggi Murder

Washington, D.C. — Over 40 lawmakers today urged Trump to impose sanctions, under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, on those responsible for Jamal Khashoggi’s death. The letter states their support for their Senate colleagues’ action to begin an investigation and urges an overdue end to U.S. support for Saudi Arabian military action in Yemen.

“With President Trump shamefully equivocating in the face of mounting evidence of Saudi slaughter, Congress must act,” said Rep. Doggett. “Our letter supports strong sanctions on those responsible for Mr. Khashoggi’s murder under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act and urges an overdue end to U.S. support for Saudi Arabia’s atrocities in Yemen. The next step is probably to expel the Saudi ambassador and suspend weapons sales.”

The letter is available here along with the list of signatories, and the text of the letter is included below:

Donald Trump

President of the United States

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW

Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear President Trump:

Mounting evidence appears to indicate that the Government of Saudi Arabia directed the murder and dismemberment of Jamal Khashoggi. We join our Senate colleagues in supporting their formal request under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act for you to determine whether a foreign person “is responsible for extrajudicial killings, torture, or other gross violations of internationally recognized human rights”[1] committed against an individual exercising freedom of expression, and to report to Congress within 120 days a determination and a decision on the imposition of sanctions on that foreign person or persons. We are hopeful that you can complete this report much sooner.

We are deeply troubled by your recent remarks suggesting that money is more important than justice and other vital American values, and by your misrepresentation of how much money is at stake.[2] Additionally, we ask that you promptly disclose whether the United States intercepted communications among Saudi officials discussing plans to detain Mr. Khashoggi and advise what actions were taken to warn him of an attack. That can be done in a private briefing with lawmakers if deemed necessary.

If your immediate investigation and determination are consistent with ongoing media reports about this outrageous action, we urge strong, comprehensive sanctions. We also urge the overdue suspension of U.S. involvement in Yemen, which has led to the deaths of countless innocent women and children in Yemen.

Sincerely,

Lloyd Doggett, Walter Jones, Alan Lowenthal, John Yarmuth, Frank Pallone, Jr., Pramila Jayapal, Jamie Raskin, Filemon Vela, James McGovern, Ro Khanna, Tim Ryan, Bill Foster, Zoe Lofgren, Jared Huffman, Mark Pocan, Ron Kind, Grace F. Napolitano, Robert Brady, Yvette D. Clarke, Peter DeFazio, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Chellie Pingree, Sheila Jackson Lee, Bobby L. Rush, Karen Bass, David N. Cicilline, Betty McCollum, Keith Ellison, Adam Smith, Barbara Lee, Nydia M. Velázquez, Peter Welch, Carolyn B. Maloney, Jan Schakowsky, Steve Cohen, John Garamendi, Suzan Delbene, Paul D. Tonko, Jackie Speier, Alcee L. Hastings, Nita Lowey, Suzanne Bonamici, Rosa DeLauro, Earl Blumenauer

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