Kaine Statement On Treasury Sanctioning 17 Saudis For Involvement In Khashoggi Murder

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, released the following statement on sanctions announced by the U.S. Treasury Department on 17 Saudis for involvement in Jamal Khashoggi’s murder:

“The sanctions announced by the Treasury Department are an important, but insufficient step towards holding Saudi Arabia accountable for the state-sponsored murder of Virginia resident and journalist Jamal Khashoggi.  I am disturbed that following repeated Saudi lies about what happened to Jamal, the Administration appears to be following the Saudi playbook of blaming mid-level officials and exonerating its leadership.  I will continue to push for further action in Congress to hold Saudi Arabia accountable for the heinous killing of Jamal, as well as for its imprisonment of women’s rights activists and disastrous prosecution of the war in Yemen.”

Kaine has been outspoken on the Saudi-sponsored murder of Jamal Khashoggi and has called to cease arms sales to Saudi Arabia until there is real accountability for Khashoggi’s death and dramatic improvement in the nation’s treatment of journalists and political dissidents. Last month, Kaine joined a bipartisan group of Senators to trigger Global Magnitsky investigation and sanctions following the murder of Khashoggi.

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