Former Foreign Minister Mike Pompeo
Mike PompeoUS intel: Saudi Crown Prince approves Khashoggi to kill Trump’s golden statue at CPAC mocks online Five things to see at CPAC MORE declared the Biden administration’s release of a declassified report on Saudi Arabia’s involvement in the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi on Sunday, calling the release of the report a “reckless” move.
The former Secretary of State under the Trump administration spoke on Fox News Sunday, arguing that the Biden administration had “political” motives for publishing the report and that it had soured relations between the United States and Saudi Arabia.
“[T]he recklessly disclosed this report. It was political. “It was aimed at undermining a relationship with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by using intelligence in a way that I as a former CIA director would never have stood for,” Pompeo said, adding: “I “They regret that they chose to do so. It was a political stunt.”
“I regret this because this government wants to develop a relationship with Iran and destroy one with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, that they have chosen to use intelligence to do so,” the former secretary continued.
Pompeo’s remarks are by far the strongest criticism of any former Trump administration official on the issue. Democrats have argued that Biden’s government has done more to hold the Saudi government responsible for Khashoggi’s death, even though they have said the White House can do more to punish Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and other top officials who are said to be at the homicide is involved.
Democratic Sen. Chris Coons
Chris Andrew Coons Democrats do not trust IDP on 1/6 commission: ‘These people are dangerous’ Sunday shows preview: 2024 hopefuls gather at CPAC; Home lightens coronavirus relief; vaccine effort continues The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by the AIDS Institute – Senate refers minimum wage, House votes today on bill on more (Del.) Said on CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday that he was “optimistic” in the hope that the Biden government would do more to hold the Saudi government responsible for Khashoggi’s death.
“I am optimistic that our role in terms of the war in Yemen, the responsibility here for the assassination of Khashoggi and other ways in which the relationship between the US and Saudi Arabia can change, will actually provide the answer I asked for,” he said, adding that the US was recalibrating its relationship with the kingdom.