House Speaker Paul Ryan said the United States should “speak with moral clarity” in response to Saudi Arabia’s role in the brutal slaying of Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi.
“Realpolitik is very important,” Ryan said, describing a governing philosophy based on practical solutions. “But Realpolitik works if you do so from a position of moral clarity and with respect to holding people accountable.”
Ryan, R-Wis., told reporters following a closed-door meeting with rank-and-file Republicans that he has requested a briefing from the Trump administration about Khashoggi’s slaying, which took place at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
According to media reports, the CIA believes Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman directed the killing.
[Read more: Trump backs Saudis despite Khashoggi killing in statement with 8 exclamation points]
Senate lawmakers this morning will meet in a closed-door briefing with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis about Khashoggi as well as U.S. support for Saudi Arabia’s war in Yemen, which many lawmakers want to end.
“I hope the administration comes in the next week or two to brief members,” Ryan said. “That means there is more to find out and there is more to be done.”
Ryan said the United States should stand up for its values and its interests. “And those two don’t necessarily have to collide with each other,” he said.
Many lawmakers, and in particular Democrats, have expressed dissatisfaction with President Trump’s response to the Khashoggi killing and have called on him to take some kind of action against Crown Prince Mohammed. So far, the administration has sanctioned 17 Saudi officials while Trump issued a statement proclaiming he would not break ties with the kingdom.
