Thanks to Rep. Eugene Vindman (D-VA07) for saying this on the floor of the U.S. House yesterday, given Trump’s appalling comments maligning murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi and defending Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman – in the Oval Office, no less. see below for a press release from Rep. Vindman’s office, as well as video of Vindman’s remarks and a transcript.
NEWS: Vindman Demands President Trump Release Transcript of 2019 Call with Mohammed bin Salman Following Murder of Jamal Khashoggi
You’ve heard about Trump and Zelesnkyy’s call, but have you heard about the call between Trump and the Saudi Crown Prince?
Washington, D.C. — Congressman Eugene Vindman (Va.-07) today spoke on the U.S. House floor to demand that the White House release the transcript of a 2019 call that took place between President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman following the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Vindman served as a lawyer on the White House National Security Council during President Trump’s first administration.
In his remarks, Vindman states that following Khashoggi’s murder, he reviewed a phone call that he believes would be of interest to both the Khashoggi family and the American people — especially given Trump’s disturbing defense of the Saudi Crown Prince in the Oval Office on Tuesday.
Now, here’s a transcript and video of Rep. Vindman’s remarks:
“Mr. Speaker, given the president’s disturbing and counterfactual defense of Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman today, I feel compelled to speak up on behalf of Mr. Khashoggi and his family and the American people. During my tenure on Trump’s White House National Security Council staff, I reviewed many of Trump’s calls with foreign leaders. Of all the calls I reviewed, two stood out as the most problematic. The first we all know it was between President Trump and President Zelinskyy, which resulted in President Trump’s first impeachment. The second was between President Trump and Muhammad bin Salman. After the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, I reviewed a call between the president and the Saudi crown prince. The American people and the Khashoggi family deserve to know what was said on that call. If history is any guide, the receipts will be shocking. I call on the president to release that transcript.”
