Ryan says Saudi-American relationship will survive Khashoggi case, Feinstein says maybe not

Bill Theobald | USA TODAY

WASHINGTON – Allegations that Saudi agents killed journalist Jamal Khashoggi are "really disturbing," House Speaker Paul Ryan said in an interview Wednesday with CBS News, inferring that the U.S. could sanction its longtime ally if the charges are proven.

Still, Ryan said, the Saudi-American relationship is "multifaceted" and "very important." "There is a lot to this relationship that will persist not matter what," Ryan said.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-California, and other Democrats suggested, however, that the U.S. may need to rethink its favored relationship with Saudi Arabia.

"The United States can no longer remain silent in the face of such brazen human rights violations," Feinstein said in one of a series of tweets. " Saudi Arabia was once one of our closest allies in the Middle East. I’m no longer sure that should be the case."

She said the idea that Khashoggi's death was the result of an interrogation gone wrong, which some reports say the Saudi government will admit, is "hardly believable."

She said Congress may need to act, suspending arms sales and other support.

If the White House continues to refuse to act, Congress must. The first step would be to reject a pending arms sale to the kingdom and suspend assistance to the Saudi-led war in Yemen. And we must seriously consider sanctions against anyone involved in Khashoggi’s disappearance. — Sen Dianne Feinstein (@SenFeinstein) October 17, 2018

Ryan said laws are in place to deal with issues like Khashoggi's alleged killing in apparent reference the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.

Last week, leaders of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee sent a letter to Trump invoking the law. It requires the president to determine whether a foreign person is responsible for an extrajudicial killing, torture, or other gross violation of internationally recognized human rights against an individual exercising freedom of expression.

The president must report to the committee within 120 days with a determination and a decision on the imposition of sanctions on that foreign person or persons.

Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, termed "completely inappropriate" the Trump administration's approach to the Saudi government regarding Khashoggi's alleged murder.

"The Trump Administration needs to pursue accountability and advocate for human rights – not use this moment to praise Saudi’s handling of the Khashoggi case and leave it as a side note," he tweeted.

Let’s be clear: State Department’s response to Khashoggi’s murder is completely inappropriate. The Trump Administration needs to pursue accountability and advocate for human rights—not use this moment to praise Saudi’s handling of the Khashoggi case and leave it as a side note. pic.twitter.com/VEUprU09P7 — Senator Jeff Merkley (@SenJeffMerkley) October 17, 2018

Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., who sits on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the Saudi government must be held accountable for any actions tied to Khashoggi’s disappearance.

“This is an important relationship, but we have to hold our allies and our partners to standards that – at least for now – were not met,” Gardner told Fox News on Wednesday. “If there’s somebody who can get off the hook on this, why hasn’t that come forward.”

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham said in an interview with Fox News that President Donald Trump had been "tremendous" to Saudi Arabia.

"This is the most disrespectful thing I’ve ever seen toward a president," Graham said. "To send a[n] assassination squad to Turkey to kill a man on foreign soil in a consulate in Turkey violates every norm known to mankind."

Democratic Sen. Mark Warner agreed. "This is not in the notion that this is some rogue element. This is not some back alley in Istanbul. This is inside the frickin' Saudi consulate!" Warner said.

Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass, tweeted that he had introduced legislation that would ban all military sales and aid to Saudi Arabia unless Secretary of State Mike Pompeo certifies the Saudi government did not order or direct the killing of Khashoggi.

#NEWS: I have officially introduced legislation in the House to ban all military sales & aid to #SaudiArabia unless @SecPompeo certifies the Saudi Government did not order or direct #JamalKhashoggi disappearance or killing. Read more: https://t.co/VUuSE8w6SS — Rep. Jim McGovern (@RepMcGovern) October 17, 2018

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said Trump is confronting a “difficult situation” in handling the international crisis surrounding the Saudi government’s alleged involvement in Khashoggi's death.

It’s a “difficult situation because the Iranians, for example, would love for us to separate ourselves from Saudi Arabia, but the Israelis and others all realize that this is a very important ally of ours,” Gingrich told Fox News Wednesday morning.

“Frankly, if it does turn out to be someone very close to the crown prince, I think the crown prince is going to be in very substantial trouble,” said Gingrich. “That doesn’t mean we are going to break relations with Saudi Arabia, but it does mean we are going to find ways to take steps to communicate very intensely .. that we just don’t accept this.”