More Than 40 US Lawmakers Call For Sanctions On Saudi Arabia Over Khashoggi Case - Letter

The Trump administration should impose sanctions on Saudi Arabia under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act in response to the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey, dozens of members of the US House of Representatives said in a letter to President Donald Trump.

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 18th October, 2018) The Trump administration should impose sanctions on Saudi Arabia under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act in response to the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey, dozens of members of the US House of Representatives said in a letter to President Donald Trump.

"If your immediate investigation and determination are consistent with ongoing media reports about this outrageous action, we urge strong, comprehensive sanctions," the letter said.

The lawmakers expressed their support for their colleagues in the Senate, who have already triggered an investigation of Khashoggi's disappearance under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.

Trump should immediately tell lawmakers whether US intelligence agents intercepted communications among Saudi officials discussing the detention of Khashoggi.

He should also reveal whether US officials did anything to warn the journalist about a possible attack.

Khashoggi, a columnist for the Washington Post, vanished after entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on October 2 to obtain a marriage document. The Washington Post reported that Turkey has informed US officials about audio and video recordings suggesting that the journalist was murdered in the Saudi Consulate.

The letter also said Trump should suspend the United States' involvement in Yemen because the Saudi-led effort in that country has led to the deaths of scores of civilians.