Iran Press/ America: Sen. Dick Durbin speaking on NBC’s “Meet the Press, added, “we ought to formally expel the Saudi ambassador from the United States until there is a completion of a third-party investigation into the kidnap, murder and God-knows-what-followed that occurred in Istanbul.“
He also said, “We should call on our allies to do the same.”
According to Politico, “unless the Saudi kingdom understands that civilized countries around the world are going to reject this conduct and make sure they are going to pay a price for it, they are going to continue doing it,” Durbin said. “The crown prince has his fingerprints all over this.”
Saudi Arabia confirmed Saturday for the first time that Jamal Khashoggi died in the kingdom’s consulate in Istanbul earlier this month, claiming that the his death came after an argument and a “fist fight” with men in the facility.
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Saudi Arabia admits Khashoggi killed in its consulate
US President Donald Trump said that Saudi Arabia's explanation for how journalist Jamal Khashoggi died at its consulate in Istanbul was credible.
The US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin also said the Saudi kingdom's explanation was a “good first step but not enough". He added it was too soon to discuss any sanctions against the world's biggest oil exporter.
Washington has remained more hesitant to threaten Riyadh with economic consequences, with Trump saying repeatedly that he did not want the Khashoggi issue to jeopardize $110 billion US arms deal with the Kingdom.
Jamal Khashoggi disappeared on October 2 in Istanbul, and was last seen entering the Saudi Consulate, where he went to receive papers required to remarry.
On Friday, amid pressure from the international community, Saudi authorities announced that a fistfight had broken out between Khashoggi and people who met him at the consulate, with the altercation leading to his death.
Riyadh noted that 18 Saudi nationals had been detained in connection with the case, and that intelligence chief Ahmad Assiri and senior aide to the crown prince Saud al-Qahtani were sacked over the incident.
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Three European countries condemn killing of Khashoggi
UN chief: 'deeply troubled' by the confirmation of Khashoggi’s death
Dutch PM calls for broader investigation on Khashoggi's killing
Nasrallah: Saudi Arabia and US in a difficult bind after Khashoggi murder
Trump says it appears Khashoggi is dead
