Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
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
Israeli media: The IOF tried to locate the paratrooper and failed to determine his landing location, speculating that he headed north.
Israeli media: The IOF spotted a paratrooper flying over their outposts on the border with Lebanon before he disappeared.
Israeli Tourism Minister Haim Katz will be heading a delegation to Riyadh in the first public Israeli visit to Saudi Arabia.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin detailed exchange of views on situation around Nagorno-Karabakh and normalization of Yerevan-Baku ties: Kremlin
Russian Black Sea commander shown working after Ukraine said it killed him
Kremlin says US Abrams tanks will 'burn' in Ukraine
China warns Philippines not to 'stir up trouble' over disputed reef
Lebanon arrests man who fired on US embassy last week: Reuters citing security sources.
Bahrain announces the death of two of its soldiers participating in the coalition forces, including an officer, in an attack near the Saudi-Yemeni border and accuses Ansar Allah of being responsible.
Russian Foreign Ministry: Yesterday's bloodshed in Kosovo is a direct result of Prime Minister Kurti's policy of fueling the conflict and cleansing the region of Serbs.

WH eyes delaying decision on MBS immunity over Khashoggi murder

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

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.

  • 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

Network of far-right militias covertly proliferating in US: Report

FBI report predicted 2020 election riots two months before Jan. 6: NBC

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

Russia destroyed leopard tank in Ukraine with fully-German crew

Russia destroyed leopard tank in Ukraine with fully-German crew

  • Europe
  • 23 Sep 2023
Ukrainian soldiers ride an APC on the front line near Bakhmut, in the Donetsk region, on June 5, 2023 (AP)

US sees Ukrainian army demoralized, no chance to win: Seymour Hersh

  • Europe
  • 21 Sep 2023
Blinken’s ‘Variable Geometry’ for a New Cold War

Blinken’s ‘Variable Geometry’ for a New Cold War

  • Analysis
  • 24 Sep 2023
Zelensky joins Canadian Parliament’s ovation to WWII Nazi soldier

Zelensky joins Canadian Parliament’s ovation to WWII Nazi soldier

  • US & Canada
  • 25 Sep 2023

Coverage

All
Morocco & Libya Disasters

Read Next

All
Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh arrive in Armenia's Goris, the town in Syunik region on 25/09/2023 (AP)
Asia

Explosion at fuel depot in Nagorno-Karabakh kills 20, injures 200

US fears running out of funds for Ukraine aid as shutdown looms.
US & Canada

US funds for Kiev enough 'for next few weeks' as shutdown looms: WH

FBI
US & Canada

FBI report predicted 2020 election riots two months before Jan. 6: NBC

Marchers bearing insignias of the white supremacist group Patriot Front pause during a gathering on Saturday, July 2, 2022, in Boston (AP)
Europe

Network of far-right militias covertly proliferating in US: Report

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

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