The Trump administration can’t allow itself to become part of a “coverup” by Saudi Arabia in the slaying of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., warned Sunday.
In an interview on ABC News’ “This Week," Schiff said President Donald Trump “needs to listen to what our intelligence community has to say” about who is responsible for Khashoggi’s October death and dismemberment inside the Saudi consulate in Isntanbul, Turkey.
“And it's vitally important that this administration not allow itself to become part of any Saudi cover-up, any cover-up, generally, any cover up of the crown prince's [Mohammed bin Salman] involvement.”
Schiff maintained the Saudis “have already undermined their position in the world, undermined their standing”
“And the administration needs to make sure it doesn't undermine its own standing,” he said.
Schiff conceded there are risks with taking action against our Middle East ally.
“If we act too precipitously and the House of Saud should fall, that would be completely destabilizing of the region and we don't know what would follow,” he said.
“So there are certainly risks here, and we need to figure out how to manage those risks. But first and foremost, we need to bring an end to the conflict in Yemen, but also we need to stop placing so much reliance on Saudi Arabia, and in particular on the person of the crown prince.”
Schiff also weighed in on the appointment of Matt Whitaker as acting attorney general.
“it's a flawed appointment, but the biggest flaw from my point of view is that he was chosen for the purpose of interfering with the [special counsel Robert] Mueller investigation,” he said, charging that Whitaker “auditioned for the part by going on TV and saying he could hobble the investigation.”
Schiff said the newly Democratic-majority House “will expose any involvement he has” in hobbling the probe.
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