President Biden
Joe BidenHoyer: House votes on COVID-19 relief bill Friday Pence talks to senior members of Republican study committee Powell pushes back on GOP inflation fears MORE said Wednesday that he read the report on the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.
“Yes, I have,” Biden told reporters in the State Dining Room after signing an executive order on the economy, without elaborating.
The Biden government is expected to release an unclassified version of the report on Khashoggi’s death shortly. Biden also said he would speak to King Salman of Saudi Arabia, but did not offer a timeline or confirm reports that the call would take place Wednesday.
“I’m going to talk to him, I haven’t talked to him yet,” said Biden.
The publication of the report is likely to complicate the US relationship with Saudi Arabia. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is expected to have approved the 2018 murder of Khashoggi, who was a journalist for The Washington Post.
The office of the director of the national intelligence agency (ODNI) will release the report, which Reuters said would happen Thursday.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki
Jen PsakiHillicon Valley: Businesses Urge Action at SolarWinds Hearing | Facebook Lifts Australian News Ban | Biden Takes Action Against Russia in ‘Weeks’ of Night Health Care: COVID-19 Vaccine Manufacturers Promise Massive Increase in Supply | Biden Health Nominee Faces First Senate Test | White House defends reopening of migrant child shelter Ocasio-Cortez criticizes opening of migrant facility for children under Biden MORE told reporters earlier Wednesday that Biden would speak to King Salman “soon”, but did not provide a specific timeline.
Director of National Intelligence April Haines
Senate Avril Haines Confirms Vilsack As Agriculture Secretary Schumer Sets Confirmation Blitz In Senate Overnight Defense: NATO Expands Troops in Iraq MORE committed during her confirmation hearing to release the report on Khashoggi’s murder. Congress was briefed on the secret version of the report in 2018, but the Trump administration opposed calls to release an unclassified version even after Congress passed legislation requiring the intelligence community to release an unclassified version. version of the report.
Reuters reported Thursday that the released report concludes that the Crown Prince approved and likely ordered the murder of Khashoggi. The Post reported in 2018 that the CIA concluded that the Crown Prince had ordered the murder of Khashoggi. Khashoggi had criticized the Saudi government in his columns.
Biden is expected to depart from the friendly relationship that the former President Trump
Donald Trump Romney: ‘Pretty sure’ Trump would win 2024 GOP nomination if he ran for president Pence talks to senior members of Republican study committee Trump says ‘no doubt’ Tiger Woods will be back after accident MORE and his government had with the Saudi government. Psaki said earlier this month that Biden would “reassess” relations with the Saudis, including by speaking to King Salman instead of his son, the Crown Prince.