Khashoggi’s widow and Democrats demand release of ‘shocking’ Trump-Saudi call
The call with the Saudi crown prince after Khashoggi’s killing involved a quid pro quo, US congressman Eugene Vindman says
A Democratic lawmaker who served on Donald Trump’s National Security Council in his first term urged the White House on Friday to release a transcript of Trump’s 2019 call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman after journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s killing.
“The Khashoggi family and the American people deserve to know what was in that call … the receipts will raise serious questions,” congressman Eugene Vindman told a news conference with Khashoggi’s widow, Hanan Elatr Khashoggi.
In 2019, Vindman worked on the National Security Council where his job included reviewing confidential telephone calls.
“In my opinion, that call was shocking,” Vindman, a retired Army officer, said.
Vindman declined to release details about the call because it was classified. But he said it involved a quid pro quo, implying that Trump had offered a favour in return for something.
Asked for comment, White House communications director Steven Cheung said in an email: “Vindman is a bitter backbencher who nobody takes seriously. He is a serial liar.”
