Washington - US President Donald Trump's backing of Saudi
Arabia following the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi has sparked
a backlash from members of Congress who insist the US consider
additional sanctions and further investigation into the killing.
Both Republicans and opposition Democrats weighed in after Trump said
he would stand by the US relationship with Saudi Arabia, citing the
need for a strong ally in the Middle East, its partnership in the
fight against terrorism and hundreds of billions of dollars of
business deals.
Republican Senator Bob Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee, said the position was akin to the White House
acting as a public relations firm for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin
Salman, and said Congress would consider everything at its disposal
to respond, including requiring by law the determination of
Mohammed's role in the dissident Saudi's killing.
Corker joined with Senator Bob Menendez, a Democrat, in calling on
Trump to clarify by February whether the crown prince is responsible
for the murder, which took place in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul
early last month.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham also advocated "serious sanctions"
against members of the Saudi royal family.
Representative Eliot Engel, a Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs
Committee, accused Trump of "trying to sweep bad acts under the rug."
Engel also said Trump's backing of Saudi Arabia cast doubt on the
ability of US intelligence, which has not yet issued its report on
the Khashoggi murder.
Trump, who is in Florida for the Thanksgiving holiday, on Wednesday
thanked Saudi Arabia, pointing to a drop in the price of oil and
saying on Twitter it was "Like a big Tax Cut for America and the
World."