Biden’s nominee for director of national intelligence said Tuesday that if confirmed, she will release an unclassified report on the killing of Saudi journalist and Washington Post contributor Jamal Khashoggi.
For months, senior lawmakers have been pressing the intelligence community to make public what its officials have been willing to say only in classified settings: that Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was responsible for Khashoggi’s 2018 killing.
Trump, who has established a close working relationship with the leadership of Saudi Arabia, has been reluctant to publicly blame the crown prince — the country’s de facto leader — for the killing, which sparked global outrage.
During Tuesday’s confirmation hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) asked Haines whether she would release the unclassified report.
“The Congress, as you know, passed a law requiring the DNI to submit to the Congress an unclassified report on who was responsible for the brutal murder of Jamal Khashoggi,” said Wyden, who has been among the most vocal lawmakers pressing for the release of the material. “If you are confirmed, will you submit to the Congress the unclassified report required by the law?”
“Yes, senator,” Haines responded. “Absolutely, we’ll follow the law.”
In December 2019, Congress passed a law requiring the director of national intelligence within 30 days to provide an unclassified report identifying those who carried out, participated in or were otherwise responsible for the death of Khashoggi, who was probably suffocated and then dismembered, according to intelligence assessments of a recording of the incident. A separate provision allowed for a classified annex.
In early 2020, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) sent its response to Congress, according to U.S. officials.
“The response said simply that ODNI would not provide any unclassified information,” Wyden said at the time. “A total and complete coverup.”
For months, senior lawmakers have been pressing the intelligence community to make public what its officials have been willing to say only in classified settings: that Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was responsible for Khashoggi’s 2018 killing.
Trump, who has established a close working relationship with the leadership of Saudi Arabia, has been reluctant to publicly blame the crown prince — the country’s de facto leader — for the killing, which sparked global outrage.
During Tuesday’s confirmation hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) asked Haines whether she would release the unclassified report.
“The Congress, as you know, passed a law requiring the DNI to submit to the Congress an unclassified report on who was responsible for the brutal murder of Jamal Khashoggi,” said Wyden, who has been among the most vocal lawmakers pressing for the release of the material. “If you are confirmed, will you submit to the Congress the unclassified report required by the law?”
“Yes, senator,” Haines responded. “Absolutely, we’ll follow the law.”
In December 2019, Congress passed a law requiring the director of national intelligence within 30 days to provide an unclassified report identifying those who carried out, participated in or were otherwise responsible for the death of Khashoggi, who was probably suffocated and then dismembered, according to intelligence assessments of a recording of the incident. A separate provision allowed for a classified annex.
In early 2020, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) sent its response to Congress, according to U.S. officials.
“The response said simply that ODNI would not provide any unclassified information,” Wyden said at the time. “A total and complete coverup.”
