WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following the Saudi Arabian government’s admission that journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) issued the following statement:
"The United States must send a strong signal to the world that there will be consequences for the abduction, torture, and killing of Jamal Khashoggi, an accomplished journalist and American resident who was known for his critical commentary against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. President Trump appears unwilling to acknowledge this act for what it was: a state-sponsored, cold blooded murder within a diplomatic consulate. President Trump would rather embrace denials and cover-ups rather than hold those responsible accountable.
"The United States cannot allow this gross human rights violation to go unanswered. I am therefore calling for a ban on oil imports from Saudi Arabia until the highest levels of Saudi government are held accountable for their actions. The Saudis clearly believe they can evade real consequences under President Trump’s leadership and we as a country must stand up and prove them wrong."