ENDOWMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL PEACE, A.B. STODDARD, REAL CLEAR
POLITIC, SEAN PATRICK MALONEY,
DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN FROM THE
STATE OF NEW YORK.
JOSH, YOU BROKE THE STORY FOR
NBC NEWS ABOUT THE SAUDI
GOVERNMENT’S NEW PLAN TO CHANGE
THEIR STORY.
THEIR STORY. >> WE KNOW A PLAN IS BEING
DISCUSSED, IN PART ALONG WITH
THE U.S., TO ESSENTIALLY ADMIT
SOME TYPE OF CULPABILITY IN THE
DEATH OF MR. KHASHOGGI.
THAT OF COURSE MEANS
ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THIS
JOURNALIST, JAMAL KHASHOGGI, IS
DEAD, AND IS NOT ALIVE, HAVING
LEFT THE CONSULATE, AS THE
SAUDIS HAVE BEEN CLAIMING FOR
THE LAST TWO WEEKS.
WE DON’T KNOW EXACTLY HOW THE
SAUDIS ARE GOING TO SPIN THIS
BUT AS SECRETARY OF STATE POMPEO
WAS FLYING TO RIYADH IN THE LAST
24 HOURS, THE U.S. WAS ALREADY
AWARE THAT HE WAS ESSENTIALLY
GOING THERE TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS
ABOUT HOW THE SAUDIS WERE GOING
TO COME OUT AND SAY, OKAY, WHAT
WE HAVE BEEN SAYING ORIGINALLY
IS NOT TRUE, YOU KNOW, WE’VE
DISCOVERED THAT HE ACTUALLY WAS
KILLED, BUT THAT THERE WILL BE
SOME TYPE OF OFF RAMP THAT
ALLOWS THE SAUDIS TO ESSENTIALLY
SAY THAT CROWN PRINCE MOHAMMAD
BIN SALMAN AND HIS FATHERPABLE I
DID NOT ORDER THIS.
AND ESSENTIALLY TO BLAME THIS ON
LOWER LEVEL ROGUE OPERATIVES.
SOMETHING HAPPENED, WENT WRONG,
BUT CERTAINLY THE LEADERSHIP AT
THE TOP HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH
IT.
IT. NOW, WHETHER THAT HAS ANY
CREDIBILITY WHETHER ANYONE IN
THE UNITED STATES IS ABLE TO
ACCEPT THAT OR OTHER PARTS OF
THE WORLD AND WHETHER THAT
CONTRADICTS INTELLIGENCE THAT
TURKEY, THE UNITED STATES AND
OTHER COUNTRIES MIGHT HAVE ABOUT
THE RUN-UP TO THIS INCIDENT AND
HOW IT CAN BE HANDLED IN THE
LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, THAT
REMAINS TO BE SEEN, STEPHANIE.
>> DO YOU BUY THIS IDEA THAT THE
CROWN PRINCE HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF
THIS OPERATION?
THIS OPERATION? IT SOUNDS A BIT LIKE TONY
SOPRANO WHO KNEW NOTHING, LIKE
YES, HE HIMSELF MIGHT NOT HAVE
SHOT THE GUN BUT HE CERTAINLY
ORDERED IT.
ORDERED IT. >> NO, IT’S ABSURD.
THE FACTS THAT YOU OUTLINE, TWO
PRIVATE JETS COMING FROM SAUDI
ARABIA WITH MEMBERS OF THE SAUDI
SECURITY SERVICE, GOING INTO A
SAUDI CONSULATE, ONE OF THEM
BEING FORENSIC EXPERT WHO CAME
WITH A BONE SAW.
IT’S VERY CLEAR THAT THIS WAS
SANCTIONED.
SANCTIONED. IT’S VERY CLEAR WHAT THE PURPOSE
OF THIS WAS.
AND NOW WHAT WE’RE IN IS A
PERIOD WHERE THE SAUDI
GOVERNMENT APPARENTLY WORKING
WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION,
IS TRYING TO COME UP WITH THE
BEST STORY THAT THEY CAN
PLAUSIBLY SELL.
PLAUSIBLY SELL. I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT’S
REALLY REMARKABLE ABOUT THIS
GIVEN THE WEIGHT OF THE
EVIDENCE, IS THAT THE PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES SEEMS TO BE
PLAYING PRESS SECRETARY FOR THE
KING.
KING. IT WAS THE PRESIDENT WHO OFFERED
UP THE ROGUE AGENTS THEORY OF
THIS THING EVEN BEFORE THE
SAUDIS STARTED TO FLOAT THIS
IDEA.
IDEA. CLEARLY THAT CAME FROM HIS
DISCUSSION WITH KING SALMAN AND,
YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE MIKE POMPEO
SITTING THERE IN THESE CHEERY
PICTURES.
PICTURES. DESPITE THE FACT HE ONLY GOT 15
MINUTES WITH THE KING AND 30
MINUTES WITH PRINCE MOHAMMED BIN
SALMAN THAT, YOU KNOW, IS TRYING
TO PUT A GOOD FACE ON THIS
THING.
THING. I THINK THAT’S APPALLING.
YOU HAVE THE DEATH OF A U.S.
RESIDENT, JOURNALIST FOR "THE
WASHINGTON POST," BRUTALLY
MURDERED.
MURDERED. AND YOU’VE GOT THE UNITED STATES
COVERING FOR IT.
FINAL THING I’D SAY THOUGH, AND
THIS IS WITH REFERENCE TO YOUR
CLIP OF LINDSEY GRAHAM.
MICHAEL RUBIO HAS ALSO COME OUT
AGAINST THIS.
AGAINST THIS. THERE IS GROWING CONSENSUS IN
BOTH HOUSINGS OF THE CONGRESS
THAT WHAT THE SAUDIS HAVE DONE
IS CROSSED A RED LINE, THAT
THE -- MBS IS GOING TO HAVE TO
PLAY A PRICE.
THE RELATIONSHIP WITH SAUDI
ARABIA IS GOING TO PAY A PRICE.
IT IS GOING TO BE A LONG TIME
RECOVERING I THINK BECAUSE BOTH
PARTIES ARE SO OUTRAGED BY WHAT
HAS HAPPENED.
HAS HAPPENED. >> ALL RIGHT, CONGRESSMAN, TO
DAVID’S POINT, I WANT TO PLAY
WHAT MARCO RUBIO SAID.
>> THIS IS GOING TO ALTER THE
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE UNITED
STATES AND SAUDI ARABIA FOR THE
FORESEEABLE FUTURE.
FORESEEABLE FUTURE. WHAT THOSE MEASURES ARE IS UP
FOR DEBATE.
FOR DEBATE. CONGRESS WILL ACT.
WE’LL SEE WHAT THE
ADMINISTRATION DOES.
ADMINISTRATION DOES. SOUNDS TO ME LIKE AT THE END OF
THE DAY THEY WILL ALSO FOLLOW
SUIT.
SUIT. >> DO YOU BELIEVE THIS?
>> NO, I DON’T.
I WANT TO SEE ACTION.
SOMETIMES IN POLITICS YOU HAVE A
MORAL DILEMMA STARING YOU
STRAIGHT IN THE FACE.
THIS IS NOT THE FIRST U.S. ALLY
TO KILL SOMEBODY.
THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TYPE AN
AMERICAN PRESIDENT HAS
PRACTICED -- THERE ARE TIMES
WHERE A MORAL DILEMMA IS RIGHT
IN FRONT OF YOU AND YOU HAVE TO
CHOOSE AND CONGRESS IS GOING TO
HAVE TO DO THIS BECAUSE THE
PRESIDENT WILL NOT.
AND THOSE GUYS WILL TALK A GOOD
GAME BUT WHEN, WHEN HAS MARCO
RUBIO OR LINDSEY GRAHAM EVER,
EVER STOOD UP TO THIS PRESIDENT
ON A MORAL ISSUE AND SAID NO
MORE?
MORE? THEY’RE OUT OF SESSION AND WE’RE
NOT BACK UNTIL AFTER THE
ELECTION.
ELECTION. IF YOU WANT AN ARGUMENT FOR
CHANGING CONTROL OF CONGRESS,
THAT’S ONE.
THAT’S ONE. BECAUSE YOU NEED REAL OVERSIGHT
AND INDEPENDENCE.
AND INDEPENDENCE. THE ARTICLE ONE BRANCH OUGHT TO
DO SOMETHING IF THE PRESIDENT IS
GOING TO TAKE A DIVE FOR THESE
KILLER MISSAUDI ARABIA.
>> WHICH HAVEE HAVE CLOSE TIES W
ARABIA, JARED KUSHNER DOES.
THE PRESIDENT LEADING THIS
NARRATIVE COULD BE ROGUE
KILLERS.
KILLERS. >> WHAT YOU SAID IS CORRECT.
IF YOU LOOK AT HOW MUCH THEY’VE
GOT IN THIS RELATIONSHIP
COMBINED --
COMBINED -- >> AND DEALINGS WITH HIM
FINANCIALLY.
FINANCIALLY. >> RIGHT, BUSINESS CURRENT AND
PAST THAT HAS HELPED THE TRUMP
ORGANIZATION.
ORGANIZATION. AT TIMES WHEN THEY WERE REALLY,
REALLY IN A CASH JAM.
IT’S OBVIOUS THAT THE PRESIDENT
HAS ACTUALLY MADE IT PERFECTLY
CLEAR TO US THAT HE INTENDS TO
CONTINUE TO HONOR THAT
RELATIONSHIP.
RELATIONSHIP. HE BASICALLY EXPLAINS THAT IN
HIS INTERVIEW ON "60 MINUTES"
THE OTHER NIGHT.
HE’S NOT GOING TO LET ALL THESE
PROCESSES AND OUR SYSTEMS AND
OUR VALUES GET IN THE WAY.
IT’S REALLY THAT HE HAS A GOAL
IN MIND AND IT’S TRANSACTIONAL.
HE’S TAKEN SANCTIONS OFF THE
TABLE.
TABLE. HE’S BASICALLY SAID I’LL FIND
ANOTHER WAY TO DEAL WITH IT.
THE THING IS, THE CONGRESSMAN IS
RIGHT.
RIGHT. THE QUESTION REALLY IS NOT NOW.
LINDSEY GRAHAM IS CLEARLY GOING
ON FOX TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO
PRESIDENT TRUMP BECAUSE HE’S
GETTING NO HEARING WITH HIM
ABOUT WHAT A BAD GUY THE CROWN
PRINCE IS.
PRINCE IS. HE AND JARED ARE NOT LISTENING
TO LINDSEY GRAHAM SO LINDSEY
GRAHAM IS GOING ON THE FOX
AUDIENCE TO SAY THIS IS A BAD
GUY AND HE’S EMBARRASSED ME AND
THE PRESIDENT FOR STICKING UP
FOR THEM ALL THIS TIME AND HE
HAS TO GO.
THAT’S VERY BOLD.
IT SHOWS HE’S DESPERATE TO BREAK
THROUGH.
THROUGH. BUT THEY’RE GOING TO HAVE TO
FOLLOW UP IN CONGRESS.
I WAS HEARTENED TO SEE SENATOR
YOUNG OF INDIANA WHO I HAVE
NEVER SEEN COME ON TV SINCE HE
WAS ELECTED IN 2016 COME OUT
LAST NIGHT AND SAY SANCTIONS
SHOULD BE ON THE TABLE.
MNUCHIN CANNOT GO TO THE
CONFERENCE.
CONFERENCE. AND WE HAVE TO CONSIDER
CANCELING THE WEAPONS DEAL.
>> IN TERMS OF POLITICAL
LEADERSHIP, WHEN YOU’VE GOT CEOs
ACROSS THE BOARD, WHETHER IT’S
GOLDMAN SACHS, JPMORGAN, ROTH
CHILD, VIACOM, NOT GOING TO WHAT
SAUDI ARABIA LIKES TO CALL THE
DAVOS OF THE MIDDLE EAST AND
MNUCHIN IS STILL GOING?
>> YES, THAT’S RIGHT.
>> ARE THE PEOPLE STEERING OUR
MORAL LEADERSHIP CORPORATE CEOs,
BANKERS NONETHELESS?
BANKERS NONETHELESS? >> WELL, GOOD FOR THEM.
THEY DESERVE CREDIT FOR THAT.
BUT IT’S NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR
THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
TAKING A STAND.
AND THERE ARE EASY STEPS HERE.
WE SHOULD TAKE ABSOLUTELY.
MNUCHIN SHOULD NOT BE GOING TO
THAT CONFERENCE.
THAT CONFERENCE. WE SHOULD GROUND THE
RELATIONSHIP THE WAY YOU WOULD
AFTER A PLANE CRASH.
WE SHOULD SUSPEND THE ARM SALES.
WE SHOULD BE ASKING VERY TOUGH
QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT THE SAUDIS
ARE DOING IN OUR ARMS IN YEMEN.
THIS WHOLE RELATIONSHIP NEEDS TO
BE RE-EXAMINED.
BE RE-EXAMINED. AND WE SHOULD NOT -- WE SHOULD
NOT -- MAYBE SAUDI ARABIA IS TOO
BIG TO FAIL BUT MBS IS NOT AND
WE SHOULD TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY
WHAT OUR LONG-TERM INTERESTS ARE
HERE WITH THIS PARTICULAR CROWN
PRINCE AND HIS ACTIONS.
BECAUSE WE OWN THIS.
AND THIS CANNOT JUST BE ONE MORE
MORAL ISSUE WE BLOW BY.
A MAN IS DEAD.
THE EXPLANATION THEY’RE GETTING
READY TO FLOAT OUT IS JUST --
JUST DOESN’T PASS THE SMELL
TEST.
TEST. WHY THE BONE SAW?
WHERE IS THE BODY?
PRODUCE THESE 15 INDIVIDUALS WHO
FLEW TO TURKEY AND FLEW RIGHT
OUT --
OUT -- >> BECAUSE I NORMALLY TRAVEL
WITH AN AUTOPSY SPECIALIST.
THE PRESIDENT TWEETED, I HAVE NO
FINANCIAL INTEREST IN SAUDI
ARABIA OR RUSSIA FOR THAT
MATTER.
MATTER. IF THE PRESIDENT’S WATCHING, I
WANT TO CLEAR SOMETHING UP.
I NEVER SAID YOU HAD FINANCIAL
INTERESTS.
INTERESTS. IN EITHER OF THOSE PLACES.
I DON’T BELIEVE YOU’VE INVESTED
IN EITHER OF THEM.
THE QUESTION IS, DO THEY HAVE A
FINANCIAL INTEREST IN YOU?
DAVID, "THE WASHINGTON POST"
SAYS THE PRESIDENT IS
OVERVALUING OUR RELATIONSHIP
WITH SAUDI ARABIA.
WE DON’T NEED THEM AS MUCH AS HE
PUTS OUT THERE.
>> WELL, THAT’S ABSOLUTELY TRUE.
SAUDI ARABIA NEEDS US MUCH MORE
THAN WE NEED THEM.
THEY NEED US WITH REGARD TO
THEIR TENSIONS WITH IRAN.
THEY NEED US WITH REGARD TO
THEIR OIL MARKETS.
THEY NEED US IN A WHOLE HOST OF
WAYS.
WAYS. MUCH SMALLER ECONOMY.
MUCH LESS INFLUENTIAL.
THEY’VE BEEN PLAYING THIS LIKE
THEY’VE GOT THE STRONG HAND.
I THINK IT GOES BACK TO YOUR
POINT.
POINT. I THINK THE SOUGHTIES HAVEY S HA
ECONOMIC TIES WITH TRUMP, WITH
TRUMP’S COMPANY, WITH JARED
KUSHNER’S COMPANY, JUST AS THE
RUSSIANS DO.
RUSSIANS DO. I THINK THAT CLEARLY INFLUENCES
HIM.
HIM. HE HAS SAID AS MUCH ON NATIONAL
TELEVISION AS YOU POINTED OUT
WITH REGARD TO THE APARTMENTS HE
LIKES THAT THEY BUY AND SO
FORTH.
FORTH. THE TIES ARE LONG STANDING.
AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES IS ESSENTIALLY SAYING,
LOOK, THE SUPPORT OF THE WHITE
HOUSE IS FOR SALE OR RENT.
COME IF YOU’VE GOT A TIE, I
DON’T CARE ABOUT MORALITY.
I THINK THIS IS A TIME FOR THE
CONGRESS TO MAKE A STAND BECAUSE
I DON’T THINK THE WHITE HOUSE IS
GOING TO LEAD THE WAY ON THIS
THING BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT IS
COMPROMISED.
COMPROMISED. HE’S CLEARLY COMPROMISED.
HE HAS TAKEN THE SAUDI LINE ON
THIS.
THIS. AND IT’S IN SUPPORTABLE.
THIS IS A REALLY HORRIFIC CASE.
THERE ARE OTHER HORRIFIC CASES
ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SAUDI
REGIME AND SOMETHING HAS GOT TO