Biden says he read report on Khashoggi murder

President BidenJoe BidenHoyer: House will vote on COVID-19 relief bill Friday. Pence joins senior members of Republican Study Committee Powell presses more on fears of IDP inflation MORE said on Wednesday that he had read the report on the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.

“Yes, I have,” Biden told reporters in the State Dining Room after signing an executive order on the economy, without elaborating further.

The Biden administration is expected to release an unclassified version of the report on Khashoggi’s death soon. Biden also said he would talk to Saudi Arabia’s King Salman, but did not offer a timeline or confirm reports that the call would take place on Wednesday.

“I’m going to talk to him, I have not talked to him yet,” Biden said.

The release of the report is likely to complicate US relations with Saudi Arabia. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is expected to approve the 2018 assassination of Khashoggi, a journalist for The Washington Post.

The office of the director of national intelligence (ODNI) will release the report, which according to Reuters would happen on Thursday.

White House Press Secretary Jen PsakiJen PsakiHillicon Valley: Companies Call for Action at SolarWinds Trial | Facebook lifts Australian news ban on Biden to act in ‘overnight’ Overnight health care against Russia: COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers promise a huge increase in supply | Lower health nominated for first Senate test | White House defends reopening of migration facility for children Ocasio-Cortez criticizes opening of migration facility for children under Biden MORE told reporters earlier Wednesday that Biden would speak to King Salman “soon” but did not offer a specific timeline.

Director of National Intelligence Avril HainesAvril Haines Senate Confirms Vilsack as Schumer’s Secretary of Agriculture, Sets Confirmed Lightning in Senate Overnight Defense: NATO Expansion of Troops in Iraq MORE committed during her confirmation hearing to release the report on Khashoggi’s murder. Congress was briefed on the classified version of the report in 2018, but the Trump administration resisted calls to release an unclassified version, even after Congress passed legislation requiring the intelligence community to release an unclassified version of the report. the report must be published.

Reuters reported on Thursday that the declassified report concluded that the crown prince had approved and probably ordered the murder of Khashoggi. The Post reported in 2018 that the CIA had concluded that Crown Prince had ordered Khashoggi’s assassination. Khashoggi was critical of the Saudi government in its columns.

Biden is expected to deviate from the friendly relationship that former President TrumpDonald Trump Romney: ‘Pretty sure’ Trump would win 2024 GOP nomination if he meets President Pence with senior members of Republican Study Committee Trump says ‘no doubt’ Tiger Woods will be back after crash MORE and had its administration with the Saudi government. Psaki said earlier this month that Biden would “recalibrate” relations with the Saudis, including by talking to King Salman rather than his son, the Crown Prince.