U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly Monday sent a letter to President Trump asking him to make a determination regarding the potential imposition of sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act, which is in part designed to punish those responsible for violations of human rights. Khashoggi is a 1983 graduate of Indiana State University.
Donnelly – a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee – said, inpart in his letter, “Reports about the circumstances surrounding [Khashoggi’s] disappearance, and the potential complicity of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in efforts to silence him, are deeply troubling. No person, particularly a journalist, should ever be fearful of calling for accountability from those in power.”
To read Donnelly’s letter in full, see below or click here.
October 12, 2018
President Donald J. Trump
The White House
Dear Mr. President:
I am writing to you to express my concern about the fate of Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist, Washington Post contributor, and a 1983 graduate of Indiana State University.
Reports about the circumstances surrounding his disappearance, and the potential complicity of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in efforts to silence him, are deeply troubling. No person, particularly a journalist, should ever be fearful of calling for accountability from those in power.
I strongly urge you to make a determination with regard to the imposition of sanctions pursuant to the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act in the case of Mr. Khashoggi. This law is explicitly designed to punish persons “responsible for extrajudicial killings, torture, or other gross violations of internationally recognized human rights committed against individuals in any foreign country seeking to expose illegal activity carried out by government officials, or to obtain, exercise, or promote human rights and freedoms.”
Given the information currently available, the case of Mr. Khashoggi is clearly suggestive of just such a situation. I look forward to your rapid consideration of this request
Sincerely,
Joe Donnelly
United States Senator
