Tom Barrack, 71, tried to defend the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi by saying 'atrocities in America are equal or worse than the atrocities in Saudi Arabia'

An ally of President Trump has defended the killing of Jamal Khashoggi by saying 'atrocities' in America are 'equal or worse' than those in Saudi Arabia.

Washington Post journalist Khashoggi, 59, was killed and dismembered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October.

Tom Barrack, who oversaw the President's inaugural committee and hauled in $107 million for Trump's bash, made the comments while answering questions at the Milken Institute MENA Summit in Abu Dhabi.

Barrack made a joke before claiming the West does not understand the East and its 'rule of law' on Tuesday.

The 71-year-old, who is the chairman of Colony Capital, was asked whether Saudi Arabia's reputation had been damaged since Khashoggi was murdered, reports CNN

Barrack started his answer to CNN's Becky Anderson question by making a joke, saying: 'As long as you don't make me a guest at the Ritz.'

He then said: 'I believe that the problem with what's happened with the Khashoggi incident is the same problems of the West misunderstanding the East that's existed since Sykes--Picot.

'So the West is confused that the rule of law -- doesn't understand what the rule of law is in the Kingdom.'

The reference to 'the Ritz' appears to be in reference to the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Riyadh which was used as a prison during Saudi Arabia's crackdown on corruption.

During late 2017 dozens of the Kingdom's princes and senior officials were detained in the luxury hotel.

Barrack continued his answer saying: 'Whatever happened in Saudi Arabia, the atrocities in America are equal or worse than the atrocities in Saudi Arabia.'

Washington Post journalist Khashoggi, 59, pictured, was killed and dismembered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2

Barrack also praised the Kingdom's 'young brilliant new leader' during his speech, but did not mention the Crown Prince by name.

However Barrack later released a statement apologizing for not making it clear that he considered the 'killing reprehensible.'

He added: 'I feel strongly that the bad acts of a few should not be interpreted as the failure of an entire sovereign kingdom.'

At the 2016 Republican National Convention Barrack said that Trump is one of his 'closest friends.'

The Times has also reported that Barrack's company raised more than $7 billion in investments since Trump won the Republican nomination.

They claimed that 24 per cent of that money has come from either the United Arab Emirates or Saudi Arabia.

Trump ally Barrack also praised the Kingdom's 'young brilliant new leader' during his speech in Abu Dhabi but did not mention Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, pictured, by name

Oklahoma Republican Sen. James Lankford told CNN on Wednesday that Barrack's comments, which were made on Tuesday, were unacceptable.

He said: 'There is never a time that you can murder a journalist in a foreign country, dismember them and carry their body off and say that somehow that's justifiable.'

Sen. Bob Menendez said he's working with South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham to 'hold the administration's feet to the fire' over the murder of journalist.

They called the murder of Khashoggi 'barbaric beyond acceptance' and claimed that Crown prince Mohammed bin Salman had a 'hand' in his death.

Sen Menedez said: 'It couldn't have happened without his knowledge and approvals and we're going to take appropriate action.'

Washington Post journalist Khashoggi, 59, was killed and dismembered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2.

President Trump has been reluctant to criticize Saudi Arabia over Khashoggi's murder and refused to impose sanctions in November.

He's previously tweeted a defiant 'America First' and refused to retreat from a claim he made in a statement that there was no certainty bin Salman ordered the killing.

Trump took to Twitter in November tweeting 'America First' when he refused to impose sanctions on Saudi Arabia

America first: Trump defiantly said he would not blame Mohammed bin Salman for Jamal Khashoggi's murder because he did not want to 'break with Saudi Arabia.'

The President added that sanctioning him and the kingdom would cost American jobs claiming that Russia and China would sweep in and take Saudi investments.

He also denied he had any personal business interest in the Saudi economy, claiming that being president had cost him 'a fortune like you have never seen.'

Standing on the White House's South Lawn in November Trump explained: 'It is all about America first - it is America first.

'We're not going to give up hundreds of billions of dollars of orders and let Russia, China, everybody else have them,' he said.

At Thanksgiving Trump indicated that he wasn't convinced by the CIA's version of the events leading to Khashoggi's death.

He said: 'Our intelligence agencies continue to assess all information, but it could very well be that the Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic event – maybe he did and maybe he didn't!'