Top Saudi official asks Congress to withhold judgment on Khashoggi
By Olivia Gazis
/ CBS News
A top Saudi official appealed to U.S. lawmakers who are considering sanctions on Saudi individuals connected to the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi to let a judicial process run its course before taking action.
"I wish the Congress would take a step back, look at the overall relationship, look at the steps that Saudi Arabia has taken, and let the process play out," Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel al-Jubeir told reporters on Friday.
"Judge us when it's complete," he said.
Al-Jubeir's visit coincided with a deadline imposed on the White House by Congress to issue a report on whether Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, was responsible for Khashoggi's death.
The White House blew past the deadline, triggered 120 days ago by a bipartisan group of senators who used the Global Magnisky Human Rights Act to force the president to determine if a foreign person was responsible for a human rights violation. The White House indicated the president could decline to respond to requests from Congress.
Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont said in a statement that the act had not triggered a "request," but rather, a legal mandate.
"If the President ignores the clear mandate of the Magnitsky Act in a case involving premeditated murder perpetrated by officials of a foreign government, the White House will share the blame for attempting to cover up the crime and for helping those responsible evade justice," Leahy, who was among the group of senators requesting the probe, said.
Khashoggi was murdered at the Saudi embassy in Istanbul, Turkey on October 2. Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor has indicted 11 Saudi nationals for the murder and requested the death penalty for five of them.
The CIA has issued an intelligence assessment indicating the Crown Prince ordered the murder – something Saudi Arabia has consistently denied.
"We know that the Crown Prince did not order this. We know that this was a rogue operation," al-Jubeir said on Friday. And as he has done for the past few months, he referred to Khashoggi's killing as a "mistake." "These things happen. Mistakes happen. We acknowledged it."
"This was something that was done outside the scope of authority and so we're now investigating, and those responsible will be held accountable," al-Jubeir said.
Al-Jubeir declined to respond to a New York Times report that the Crown Prince told an aide in 2017 he would use "a bullet" on Khashoggi, according to communications intercepted by U.S. intelligence agencies.
"I can't comment on reports based on anonymous sources," al-Jubeir said. "We have seen in the past that many so-called reports based on intelligence sources have not panned out."
He also dismissed outside calls to have the Crown Prince step aside.
"That's nobody's business except Saudi Arabia. Our leadership is a red line," he said. "I think for anyone to think that they can dictate what we should do or what our leadership should do is preposterous."
Al-Jubeir expressed less concern about the numerous press reports in recent months indicating that the crown prince's personal communications were being routinely intercepted by U.S. and foreign intelligence agencies.
"I think that's what intelligence agencies do," he said.
He added that "the old saying that 'gentlemen don't read other gentlemen's mail' is a principle that I would subscribe to."
First published on February 8, 2019
© 2019 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Top Saudi official asks Congress to withhold judgment on Khashoggi
The request by Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir comes as the Trump administration declined to meet a congressional deadline to determine who was responsible for Khashoggi's death
updated 1M ago 
120 people freed after being trapped by snow for 5 days
Though some got bored during the snow-in, the Forest Service said the lodge had enough food, fuel and general supplies to keep everyone comfortable
updated 59M ago 
Trump-Kim Jong Un summit to take place in Hanoi
The meeting will be held on Feb. 27 and 28
2H ago 
Justin Fairfax accused of sexual assault by second woman
A second woman comes forward — a college classmate of the Virginia lieutenant governor accused him of raping her when they were at Duke in 2000
updated 38M ago 
Lawsuit claims deputies "literally watched" inmate die
Lawsuit says jail staff never got India Cummings proper treatment as her physical and mental health declined over 17 days
2H ago 
Top Saudi official asks Congress to withhold judgment on Khashoggi
The request by Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir comes as the Trump administration declined to meet a congressional deadline to determine who was responsible for Khashoggi's death
updated 1M ago
Trump-Kim Jong Un summit to take place in Hanoi
The meeting will be held on Feb. 27 and 28
2H ago
Justin Fairfax accused of sexual assault by second woman
A second woman comes forward — a college classmate of the Virginia lieutenant governor accused him of raping her when they were at Duke in 2000
updated 38M ago 
White House does not meet deadline on Khashoggi killing
President Trump was supposed to meet a deadline to determine whether the Saudi government was responsible for Khashoggi's death on Feb. 7
3H ago 
Wife desperately attempts to claim husband's body amid backlog at Puerto Rico's morgue
Puerto Rican officials say the backlog can't be stabilized without immediate assistance from the federal government
1H ago
Top Saudi official asks Congress to withhold judgment on Khashoggi
The request by Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir comes as the Trump administration declined to meet a congressional deadline to determine who was responsible for Khashoggi's death
updated 1M ago 
Sierra Leone declares national emergency over rape
President says hundreds of cases of rape and sexual assault are reported each month against women, girls and babies
2H ago 
Men who fled ISIS territory are being interrogated
ISIS militants have been caught sneaking out with their families and protesting their innocence
3H ago 
Saudi Minister for Foreign Affairs Al-Jubeir denies Saudi government role in leaks to AMI
Al-Jubeir sat down for an interview with "Face the Nation" moderator Margaret Brennan to air this Sunday
4H ago 
School cancels Darwin play after complaints from Christian parents
"It really does feel like a huge step backwards," said one parent about the decision
5H ago 
Major artists turned down Grammy performances, producer says
Ehrlich admitted the Grammys has a problem in the hip-hop world – he may also have a problem in the pop world after a confrontation with Ariana Grande
4H ago 
Spike Lee boycotts Gucci and Prada over blackface items
His boycott was a powerful message to fashion houses
5H ago 
Preview: Oscar-nominee Spike Lee doesn't need awards to validate his work
The filmmaker talks about being nominated for the Best Director Academy Award for the first time, for "BlacKkKlansman"
9H ago 
Ariana Grande slams Grammys producer
"I've kept my mouth shut but now you're lying about me," she tweeted
8H ago 
Albert Finney, Oscar-nominated actor, dies at 82
Albert Finney's family said that he "passed away peacefully after a short illness with those closest to him by his side."
3H ago 
Wells Fargo outage: Customers say direct deposits aren't showing up
Banking customers complained about problems accessing their accounts, while the bank vowed to reverse fees
5H ago 
Global lawmakers try again to get Zuckerberg to testify
A Facebook vice president sat next to an empty chair reserved for CEO Mark Zuckerberg when the committee met in London last year
Feb 7 
NASA and SpaceX reset Crew Dragon test flight for March 2
The Crew Dragon and Starliner spacecraft are the centerpieces of NASA's drive to resume launching U.S. astronauts aboard U.S. rockets from U.S. soil
Feb 6 
Earth could be headed for warmest period on record
The next five years could be even hotter than 2018, which was already near record territory
Feb 7 
Snap reports record revenues, but struggles to add users
Struggling social media company gets a badly needed boost in growth, while its losses narrowed
Feb 5 
Hundreds rally against vaccinations amid measles outbreak
Washington currently allows parents to refuse vaccines for philosophical reasons
3H ago 
Measles anywhere is a threat to kids everywhere
Homegrown outbreaks in the U.S. aren't caused by lack of access to a vaccine, but because parents in this country are choosing not to get their kids vaccinated
1H ago 
Bill would require vaccinations amid Northwest measles outbreak
Cecilia Rodriguez was too young to be vaccinated when she contracted measles. 30 years later, her eye sight, speech and hearing are still affected.
12H ago 
Walgreens tops list for illegal cigarette sales to minors
FDA says the drugstore chain has racked up nearly 1,800 violations for selling tobacco products to children
Feb 7 
Ozzy Osbourne hospitalized after flu complications
"His doctors feel this is the best way to get him on a quicker road to recovery," tweeted his wife Sharon
Feb 6 
"Fiji Water Girl" is countersued by Fiji Water over Golden Globes photos
The countersuit claims Kelleth Cuthbert, who went viral for her Golden Globes photobombing, wants "to extort" money from the water company
3H ago 
Gucci and Prada aim for outrageousness, get outrage
Upscale fashion designers spur backlash with racist designs — are they as clueless as they seem?
3H ago 
Target updates app after TV station reveals in-store price hikes
The TV station randomly picked 10 items and found four of them jumped in price when they approached a store
4H ago 
So far, tax refunds this year are smaller than in 2018
Average refund dropped by $170 from this time last year, leaving some taxpayers fuming
5H ago
Spike Lee boycotts Gucci and Prada over blackface items
His boycott was a powerful message to fashion houses
5H ago 
Sierra Leone declares national emergency over rape
President says hundreds of cases of rape and sexual assault are reported each month against women, girls and babies
2H ago
Lawsuit claims deputies "literally watched" inmate die
Lawsuit says jail staff never got India Cummings proper treatment as her physical and mental health declined over 17 days
2H ago 
Customs officer shoots, injures man at U.S.-Mexico border
The driver was transported to a local hospital; the officer was not injured
3H ago 
Record 1.7 tons of meth found hidden in loudspeakers bound for Australia
Six people, including two Americans, were arrested after what authorities said Friday was the largest-ever seizure of methamphetamine on U.S. soil
6H ago 
Staffer shot at Baltimore high school; suspect taken into custody
Police said all of the students at Frederick Douglass High School are safe
8H ago
