'A smoking saw': Senators say Saudi crown prince was 'complicit' in journalist Jamal Khashoggi's kil

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., emerged from a closed-door briefing led by CIA Director Gina Haspel on Tuesday more convinced than ever that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was "complicit" in the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

The senior senator from South Carolina, and a close ally of President Donald Trump, told reporters on Capitol Hill that "there's not a smoking gun, there's a smoking saw" connecting the crown prince to Khashoggi's slaying.

His and other senators' remarks appeared to contradict senior Trump administration officials — as well as Trump himself — who have claimed that no "direct evidence" links the Saudi leader to the killing.

"The crown prince is a wrecking ball. I think he's complicit in the murder of Mr. Khashoggi to the highest level possible. I think his behavior before the Khashoggi murder was beyond disturbing. And I cannot see him being a reliable partner to the United States," Graham said after the briefing.

"If the Saudi government is going to be in the hands of this man for a long time to come, I find it very difficult to be able to do business because I think he's crazy, I think he is dangerous, and he has put the relationship at risk."

Bob Corker, R-Tenn., told journalists he has "zero question in my mind that the crown prince, MBS, ordered the killing, monitored the killing, knew exactly what was happening, planned it in advance. If he was in front of a jury he would be convicted in 30 minutes. Guilty. So, the question is what do we do about that."

Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., agreed with Corker: "That was my view before this briefing, and it is certainly my view now."

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/04/senators-say-saudi-crown-prince-complicit-in-khashoggi-killing-after-cia-briefing.html