Rand Paul: Saudi prince will 'execute' anyone who can tie him to Jamal Khashoggi
by Joel Gehrke
| October 22, 2018 01:36 PM
Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will likely execute anyone who can tie him to the murder of a dissident journalist that has rocked U.S. relations with the monarchy, Sen. Rand Paul predicted Monday.
“The 15 people who actually committed the killing, they will quickly execute them or shuffle them off somewhere never to be seen again,†the Kentucky Republican told reporters on a conference call. “Anybody that can possibly say the crown prince is involved will probably be executed.â€
Saudi Arabian officials admitted to the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, after weeks of dissembling over an incident that outraged official Washington. Paul, one of the most strident critics of the Gulf ally in recent years, dismissed the Saudi claim that the crown prince is innocent of the murder, and renewed his call for a halt to arms sales to the country.
“Arms sales should not be considered a jobs program,†Paul said, a reference to President Trump’s desire to maintain the deals. “We've been too quiet because people have glossed over the human rights violations in Saudi Arabia in order to get some monetary benefit from either oil trade or arms trade.â€
Saudi officials claim that Khashoggi was killed by accident after an interrogation in their consulate in Istanbul “developed in a negative way, leading to a fistfight.†Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir denied that the crown prince had any responsibility in the killing, even though some of his associates were involved.
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https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/defense-national-security/rand-paul-saudi-prince-will-execute-anyone-who-can-tie-him-to-jamal-khashoggi
