(Ross May /Washington Post illustration)The end of last week was the final date for the Trump administration to submit a congressional report answering whether the Saudi crown prince was responsible for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in October. But as more evidence comes to light, it looks increasingly as though the White House is seeking to shield the man with the most power in Saudi Arabia: the crown prince. Key allies of the crown prince may ultimately escape serious punishment, too. The Saudis are vital allies in Trump’s maximum-pressure campaign on Iran — and the White House is scared of tarnishing them. “This whole episode shows you the degree to which this administration has gone all in on Saudi Arabia,” Kirby added.

Source: Washington Post February 13, 2019 06:00 UTC