House lawmakers delay decision on Saudi Arabia pending investigation

House leadership from both parties emerged Thursday from a briefing on Saudi Arabia without committing to take legislative action to punish the kingdom for killing U.S.-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi, with both sides saying they will wait for the results of an ongoing investigation.

House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) cited an “ongoing investigation” into Khashoggi’s death when asked whether leadership would support a resolution condemning Saudi Arabia for the killing.

{mosads}Asked about moving something this year on the Yemeni civil war, where the United States supports a Saudi-led military coalition, he said the briefing “maybe addresses some of the questions” that were driving lawmaker concern about the war.

Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who is expected to be Speaker in the next Congress, noted there was enough bipartisan support to act on Yemen this year, but added “we’ll see how events proceed” when asked whether she will bring it up for a vote next year.

House Republicans have blocked lawmakers from forcing a vote for the remainder of the year on legislative attempts to cut off U.S. support for Saudi Arabia’s campaign in Yemen. 

Pelosi did say she’d support sanctions against Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, but said the investigation into Khashoggi’s death needs to conclude first.

“Our decisions are evidenced based,” she said.

The reaction stood in stark contrast to the Senate, which later Thursday is expected to pass a resolution widely seen as a rebuke to the Saudis and President Trump that aims to cut off U.S. support for the Saudis in Yemen’s civil war.

The Senate measure gained considerable momentum after senators left a briefing by Defense Secretary James Mattis and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo furious at the administration’s handling of the Yemen war and the Khashoggi killing.

Senators have also discussed a resolution naming Crown Prince Mohammed responsible for the Khashoggi killing. They are further hoping to prepare a bill to bring up next year that would mandate sanctions on anyone, including anyone in the royal family, responsible for the death and to stop arms sales to the Saudis, among other provisions.

But after their own briefing with Mattis and Pompeo on Thursday, House lawmakers appeared reluctant to speed into action.

Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.), who is expected to chair the House Foreign Affairs Committee, reaffirmed his plan to hold hearings that “leave no stone unturned” on U.S.-Saudi relations and said he secured a commitment from Pompeo to testify early next year.

But asked about actions the Senate is prepared to take, such as halting arms sale, Engel reiterated his plan for hearings. And on whether Crown Prince Mohammed should be sanctioned, he said he cannot discuss classified information.

“But I do think that this horrific killing of a journalist is not simply something where we can look the other way,” he continued.

“I think that things are still coming out about in terms of how it was done and who did it,” he added later. “Yes, they have to be held responsible.”

Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), a Foreign Affairs Committee member, said he “might very well support” the Senate’s Yemen resolution, but wouldn’t commit until there is specific legislation pending in the House.

He also said Thursday’s developments in Yemen’s peace talks would have to factor in. Yemen’s warring parties, which have been meeting in Sweden in United Nations–mediated talks, have agreed to a ceasefire in the key port city of Hodeidah.

“Whether a change in our Yemen policy is in the interest of the people of Yemen or the people of the United States is something Democrats will certainly analyze,” he added. “Whatever our analysis was yesterday needs to be redone tomorrow in light of what happened in Sweden today.”

Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger (Ill.) said he’d support calling the Khashoggi “murder out for what it is” and sanctioning individuals involved, but that sanctions decisions should be left to the administration because it has “way more information at their fingertips” than Congress.

“I think recognizing that even if we don’t have definitive proof that the crown prince ordered it, we’re pretty darn sure he did, and I think we need to be clear about that,” he said.

He also cautioned against taking step that would alter U.S.-Saudi relations over the issue. 

“But then to say we’re not going to sell weapons or we’re going to in essence completely realign our alliance with Saudi Arabia when the alternative then is empowering Iran,” he added, “would be the wrong answer.”