Iran Press/America: Democrats will investigate Donald Trump's financial ties to Saudi Arabia as part of a "deep dive" on the kingdom when majority control of the House changes hands in January, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) said in a new interview with The Washington Post on Friday.
The lawmaker in line to become chairman of the House Intelligence Committee added that investigating the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi will be a top priority when the new session begins.
Incoming intelligence committee head Adam Schiff plans ‘deep dive’ into US-Saudi Arabia ties
“We will certainly want to examine what the intelligence community knows about the murder,” Schiff said. “Then it will be quite clear whether the president is relying on the intelligence community and our best source of information or whether the president is representing something very different,” the top Democrat noted.
Jamal Khashoggi once a close aid of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and later active critic and dissident of al-Saud regime entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on 2 October, but he never came out of that building alive.
US President Donald Trump stood by Saudi Arabia and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman despite evidence that the crown prince ordered the Jamal Khashoggi murder.
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In a statement issued on Tuesday – which begins with the words "The world is a very dangerous place!" – Trump quotes Saudi officials as describing Khashoggi as an “enemy of the state”.
"King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman vigorously deny any knowledge of the planning or execution of the murder of Mr. Khashoggi," Trump 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!"
The willingness to defend the crown prince and Saudi Arabia despite the CIA's assessment that Bin Salman ordered Khashoggi's killing raised questions about Trump's motives and, in particular, his direct ties to the country.
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CIA says Bin Salman ordered Khashoggi assassination: Washington Post
US President Donald Trump denied having any personal financial interest in Saudi Arabia as his relationship with the country comes under scrutiny amid the murder Jamal Khashoggi. But his businesses have made millions from the Saudi government, and the Saudi crown prince gave his New York City hotel a huge boost.
The Trump Organization does not own any buildings in Saudi Arabia, but the US president has worked closely with officials from the country over the years. Trump has been paid tens of millions by Saudi investors and its government through a variety of business deals.
The most recent example came last year, as The Washington Post reported in August that a visit from Saudi officials to Trump's Trump International Hotel in New York City helped boost the hotel's quarterly revenue by 13% in 2018's first quarter. 101
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