Khashoggi, a Saudi dissident who wrote for the Washington Post, was tortured and murdered inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2. A 15-man assassination squad was sent from Riyadh to carry out the assassination. Turkish officials obtained an audio recording of the killing final moments, but the Saudis maintain the death was a kidnapping gone wrong.

Critics have accused Trump of overlooking the murder so not to jeopardize lucrative arms deals struck with the Saudis. Trump responded Tuesday, arguing that “foolishly canceling these contracts” would only benefit Russia and China.

“It could very well be that the crown prince had knowledge of this tragic event. Maybe he did and maybe he didn’t,” Trump said, regarding the CIA report that concluded bin Salmon did give the order.

Under the Magnitsky law the White House now has 120 days to respond to the Senate.

This is the second time the chamber has sent Trump a Magnitsky letter in relation to the Khashoggi murder; U.S. senators first using the mechanism a week after the journalist’s death.

The administration has yet to respond to the first letter, but has until February to do so.

READ: Trump parrots royal family’s smears of Khashoggi to justify U.S.’s relationship with Saudi Arabia

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, has also called for legislation to force the U.S. intelligence agencies to make public their assessment of the Khashoggi killing next week.

“Putting America first does not include subservience to the leaders of an authoritarian and murderous monarchy,” Wyden said in a statement. “Under Donald Trump’s reasoning, there is no atrocity Saudi Arabia can commit that will lead the U.S. to act independently, according to our own values and interests.”

Trump’s kowtowing to the Saudis following the brutal slaying has prompted strong reactions in the U.S. and abroad: