The Trump administration approved sending unclassified nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia twice after the death of U.S.-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a Democratic senator said Tuesday.
One of the approvals came on Oct. 18, 16 days after Khashoggi was killed, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) said in a statement after seeing the approvals. The second came Feb. 18, he said.
“It has taken the Trump administration more than two months to answer a simple question — when did you approve transfers of nuclear expertise from American companies to Saudi Arabia? And the answer is shocking,” said Kaine, the 2016 Democratic vice presidential nominee.
“The alarming realization that the Trump administration signed off on sharing our nuclear know-how with the Saudi regime after it brutally murdered an American resident adds to a disturbing pattern of behavior that includes citing a bogus emergency to bypass a congressional block on arms sales to the Saudis, continuing support for the disastrous war in Yemen over congressional objections, turning a blind eye to the regime’s detention of women’s rights activists, and refusing to comply with the Global Magnitsky Act to reach a determination about the Saudi government’s responsibility for the murder of Jamal Khashoggi,” he added.
At issue is what’s known as Part 810 authorizations, which allow U.S. companies to share certain unclassified nuclear energy technology and services with other countries.
The Trump administration’s approval of seven Part 810 authorizations for Saudi Arabia was first reported in late March. Energy SecretaryRick Perry later confirmed to the Senate Armed Services Committee that he approved the authorizations.
……..
- Discussion
-
JUST IN: Trump admin sent nuclear tech to Saudi Arabia shortly after Khashoggi killing, Tim Kaine says https://t.co/thLP2Rth5k pic.twitter.com/seB9B9jZUM
— The Hill (@thehill) June 4, 2019
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.