Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Colombian President: The solution starts with Netanyahu, who should stop bombing Palestine, declare a ceasefire, and stop endangering all of humanity
Colombian President Gustavo Petro: It all started with the bombing of Palestinian children and the genocide of the people of Gaza, and now we are on the verge of a world war
Iranian Army Commander from War Operations Room: Every time the United States commits a crime, it receives a decisive response, which will happen this time as well
Spain's foreign minister: I will ask EU to approve immediate suspension of trade agreement with 'Israel'
Spain's foreign minister: I will ask EU foreign minister today to say no towar and yes to diplomacy
The potential blocking of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran will not spare the US, triggering a "global oil shock", CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF)
DPRK strongly condemnded the US strikes on Iran
Iran: Fars News Agency: A woman and her 6-year-old son were killed in an Israeli drone attack on Kermanshah Province
Iran: IRNA: Attack Wave 21 was not carried out, and the operation carried out minutes ago was from Yemen against targets in the occupied territories
Sirens are sounding in Tel Aviv and surrounding areas

WH eyes delaying decision on MBS immunity over Khashoggi murder

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 19 Jul 2022 15:02
5 Min Read

The request comes after Biden's return from a trip to Saudi Arabia, where he claims to have discussed the murder of the journalist with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

  • x
  • A demonstrator dressed as MBS with blood on his hands protests outside the Saudi Embassy in Washington, DC, demanding justice Khashoggi. (AFP)
    A demonstrator dressed as MBS protests in Washington, DC, demanding justice for Khashoggi. (AFP)

The Biden administration requested a 60-day extension from a US judge before formally weighing in on whether Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman should be granted sovereign immunity in the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.

In a filing before a US district court, the Department of Justice stated that it had begun a "decision-making process" about whether to file a statement of interest in the case, but that it would be unable to meet the court's requested deadline of August 1.

“The United States is diligently considering the Court’s inquiry but the process for doing so requires consultation among multiple entities within the Executive Branch with respect to complex issues of international and domestic law,” as per the filing.

It is worth noting that the judge approved the US government's request and gave it until October 3 to file a statement of interest.

This is happening just days after US President Joe Biden returned from a contentious trip to Saudi Arabia, where he met with MBS and claimed to have raised Khashoggi's murder in a private conversation.

Following his meeting with MBS, Biden stated that he confronted the crown prince about Khashoggi's murder and suggested that he told the prince that he held him personally responsible for Khashoggi's murder. However, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir stated that he "didn't hear" Biden say that to Prince Mohammed. Biden responded by saying that Al- Jubeir's remarks were false.

Behind closed doors

According to two Saudi officials familiar with the matter, in a closed-door meeting, bin Salman was not having it when fingers were being pointed at him and his Kingdom regarding the murder of his dissident. The situation resembled a personal "but you!" back-and-forth between Biden and the Crown Prince. Bringing up the murder, bin Salman bit back by pointing out Washington's weak response to human rights issues, including the abuse of prisoners in Abu Ghraib, Iraq, and the recent assassination of Palestinian reporter Shireen Abu Akleh.

Related News

US 'opened a Pandora's Box': Russia's UN envoy on aggression on Iran

US aggression attacks Iran’s national unity, identity: Ex-president

Bin Salman argued that the US cannot impose its values on Saudi Arabia, pointing to Washington's failed adventures in Afghanistan and Iraq. 

US President Joe Biden has long been championing punishing Saudi Arabia over the assassination of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi and Riyadh's grave human rights violations, but it seems that the Kingdom's "pariah" status will have to wait, for the US needs oil and energy.

#JoeBiden has long been championing punishing #SaudiArabia over the assassination of #Saudi journalist #JamalKhashoggi and #Riyadh's grave human rights violations, but it seems that the Kingdom's "pariah" status will have to wait, for the #US needs oil and energy. pic.twitter.com/SMsgIrX81z

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) June 3, 2022

“To give legal immunity would give MBS a licence to kill”

Biden is running toward MBS, somewhat of a sworn enemy of his, despite US intelligence finding that he pulled the strings of the team that brutally murdered and dismembered Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

Attempts to hold Saudi Arabia accountable for the murder have thus far been unsuccessful. A trial in Saudi Arabia against unnamed defendants was widely condemned as a sham, and Turkey recently concluded its own trial in the murder. MBS' only remaining legal avenue is in the United States, where Khashoggi's fiance Hatice Cengiz has filed a civil lawsuit against the crown prince for ordering the killing.

A district court judge, John Bates, stated in early July that he was inviting the US government to weigh in on legal questions regarding whether the trial should proceed and whether the US had an interest in the case. 

He also stated that a hearing would be held on August 31 following motions to dismiss the civil case filed by MBS and others.

The motions to dismiss the civil case are based on MBS lawyers' claims that the DC court lacks jurisdiction over his involvement in the case.

In his response to the government's filing, Judge Bates stated that he would give the parties in the case until July 20 to express their views on whether the August 31 hearing should be postponed.

The research director of Dawn, a non-profit that promotes democracy in the Middle East that was founded by Khashoggi and Abdullah Alaoudh, a co-plaintiff on the case against MBS, said that “for the Biden administration, it is a whole different level to go out of the way to give MBS immunity in court over the most documented assassination that MBS ever did. To give legal immunity would give MBS a license to kill.”

Read more: "Democracy": US reporters restricted in Jeddah, live coverage cut off

  • US
  • Khashoggi murder
  • Biden
  • Saudi Arabia
  • white house
  • MBS

Most Read

Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

  • MENA
  • 17 Jun 2025
Rescue team work at the site where a missile launched from Iran struck Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, June 16, 2025 (AP)

Wave 12 of Operation True Promise 3 launched, Sejjil deployed: IRGC

  • Politics
  • 18 Jun 2025
Israeli workers survey the site where a missile launched from Iran struck in Haifa on Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

True Promise 3, wave 20: 40 missiles launched, Kheibar-Shekan in first

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025
Iran launches missile barrage to Tel Aviv, casualties reported

True Promise 3, wave 14: Tel Aviv targeted, casualties reported

  • Politics
  • 19 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani, speaks with then-Syrian Prime Minister Imad Khamis in a meeting in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, January 17, 2017 (AP)
Politics

Iran holds the initiative after nuclear strikes, Shamkhani says

Blood stains a religious painting inside Mar Elias Church, where a suicide bomber detonated himself in al-Dwela, on the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, on Sunday, June 22, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN, regional governments condemn Damascus church bombing

A B-2 bomber arrives at Whiteman Air Force Base Missouri, Sunday, June 22, 2025, after returning from a massive strike on Iranian nuclear sites on Saturday (AP)
Politics

Israeli media: US-Israeli strike on Iran failed to end war

China UN Ambassador Fu Cong addresses the United Nations Security Council, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
Politics

China slam US strikes on Iran nuclear sites

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS