GOP Rep. Chris Stewart Defends Trump on Khashoggi: ‘Journalists Disappear’ All the Time
WOW
The Republican congressman backed the president’s position that the U.S. should not blow up its relationship with Saudi Arabia over the murder of a journalist.
During an interview with CNN’s Brianna Keilar on Tuesday, Rep. Chris Stewart (R-UT) defended President Donald Trump’s decision to stand by Saudi Arabia despite overwhelming evidence that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was behind the murder of U.S.-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Admitting that it’s possible MBS ordered the killing, Stewart, who serves on the House Intelligence Committee, said, “We have to have to have a relationship with some players that we don’t agree with. Journalists disappear all over the country. 20 journalists have been killed in Mexico. You don't think it happens in Turkey and China? Of course it does. And yet we have to have a relationship with these individuals, or with these countries.” The comments echoed those made by Trump, who told reporters last month, “I’m not going to destroy the world economy and I’m not going to destroy the economy for our country by being foolish with Saudi Arabia.” Earlier on Tuesday, Republican senators who attended a classified briefing from CIA Director Gina Haspel on Khashoggi’s killing emerged more confident than ever that MBS was guilty. “No question in my mind. I had almost no question before. I have no question whatsoever now,” Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) said, “that the crown prince directed the murder and was kept apprised of the situation all the way through.”
Wow -- @RepChrisStewart downplays Saudi Arabia's responsibility for murdering the dissident journalist and Virginia resident Khashoggi: "Journalists disappear all over the country. 20 have been killed in Mexico. You don't think it happens in Turkey and China? Of course it does." pic.twitter.com/L5cJgYQwmK
