Sen. Marco Rubio said Tuesday he is not ready to accept the answer that Saudi Arabia is reportedly preparing this week over the disappearance of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.
Multiple media reports surfaced Monday night that noted the Saudi Arabia kingdom was preparing to acknowledge that Mr. Khashoggi was killed, but it may claim that it was not at the government’s order.
For Mr. Rubio, Florida Republican and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, that reported reasoning will not be enough and only spurs more questions.
“Where’s the body? Why wasn’t the family notified? Why have they spent the better part of eight or nine days saying they didn’t know anything about it?” Mr. Rubio said when asked about the potential statement during an interview on CNN.
The senator said this situation highlights a “fear we’ve had for a long time” that Saudi Arabia’s crown prince is “a young and aggressive guy.”
Mr. Rubio said this “catastrophic” situation is bigger than arms deals or even the U.S. Middle Eastern foreign policy. He stressed that protecting human rights was worth risking a deal and influence in the region.
SEE ALSO: Mike Pompeo meets Saudi king over Khashoggi’s disappearance
“I don’t care how much money it is,” he said, “There isn’t enough money in the world to purchase back our credibility on human rights and the way nations should conduct themselves.”
Secretary of State Michael Pompeo is meeting with Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Tuesday to discuss Mr. Khashoggi. Mr. Trump said Monday that Mr. Pompeo is tasked with getting to the bottom of the mysterious disappearance, which many suspect was actually a slaying.
• Gabriella Muñoz can be reached at gmunoz@washingtontimes.com.
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