On Oct. 2, 2018, Saudi agents killed Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. Attorneys for Aljabri and Mohammed and a spokesman for the State Department declined to comment, citing pending litigation. The request to the Trump administration comes as the State Department, Aljabri’s family and supportive U.S. lawmakers have condemned Riyadh for detaining two of Aljabri’s children in a bid to silence him. President Trump, though, has been an ardent supporter of the crown prince, who is sometimes referred to by his initials, MBS. It may be harder for Saudi Arabia to persuade the United States to confer immunity on Mohammed once Trump leaves office.

Source: Washington Post December 21, 2020 18:13 UTC