WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic leaders in the US Congress have expressed their intention to hold hearings to assess Saudi Arabia's actions and US relations after CIA director Gina Haspel briefed the House on the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
"We have to review our relationship with Saudi Arabia and identify where it might change," said Democratic Rep. Elliott Engel, who will chair the House Foreign Relations Committee when Democrats control it from January.
Engel made his remarks to reporters at the House of Representatives after Haskell's briefing to House of Representatives leaders on Wednesday closed. The Democratic MP described what happened to Jamal Khashoggi as "tragic."
"The House Foreign Relations Committee intends to hold hearings after the beginning of next year on all aspects of Saudi behavior," Engel said. "Of course, what happened to Mr. Khashoggi is tragic and makes our job more difficult." There are many questions among deputies about Saudi behavior in Yemen and its behavior with its people.
Engel was asked about Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's accusation of Khashoggi's death, but declined to give a specific answer but said "all the leaders of the countries are responsible for what happens under their authority."
"Saudi Arabia is an important country and a partner to us, but we can not condone what is happening and have our relations with it as usual," said Engel, who declined to provide information on Hubble's briefing.
The al-Jazeera correspondent in Washington, Wazid Waqfi, said several senior MPs who listened to Haspel's briefing left the meeting without talking to reporters.
Haskell had given a similar briefing on Khashoggi's death to prominent senators on December 4, and after listening to Haspel's assessment, members said they were more convinced of Mohammed bin Salman's responsibility for Khashoggi's death and the need to hold him accountable.