Pat Robertson: Khashoggi Isn't Worth Damaging US-Saudi Relations

Christian Broadcasting Network founder Pat Robertson said Monday the U.S. should not risk "$100 billion worth of arms sales" with Saudi Arabia over dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi's reported death, Vox reports.

"For those who are screaming blood for the Saudis — look, these people are key allies," Robertson said on CBN's show, "The 700 Club."

He also urged viewers to remember "we've got an arms deal that everybody wanted a piece of . . . it'll be a lot of jobs, a lot of money come to our coffers. It's not something you want to blow up willy-nilly."

Khashoggi has been missing since Oct. 2, when he walked into the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, and never came out. Turkish officials allege Saudis dismembered and killed Khashoggi, who had previously written negatively about the Saudi Kingdom and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman. Khashoggi was a permanent U.S. resident who wrote regular columns for The Washington Post.

Saudi Arabia denies knowing about Khashoggi's disappearance.

Robertson said the arms deal was a reason not to go after Saudi Arabia with sanctions.

"I don't think on this issue we need pull sanctions and get tough," Robertson said. "I just think it's a mistake. . . . You've got one journalist — who knows? Was it an interrogation? Was he assassinated? Were there rogue elements? Who did it? . . . You've got $100 billion worth of arms sales . . . we cannot alienate our biggest player in the Middle East."

• Saudi Crown Prince Must Answer for the Murder of Jamal Khashoggi
• John Brennan: US Intel Will Find Out What Happened to Khashoggi

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