Trump Pledges To ‘Get To The Bottom Of’ Khashoggi Disappearance

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the U.S. would “get to the bottom of” the mystery surrounding the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, as some Hill lawmakers pointed fingers at the Saudi government and vowed congressional action.

Khashoggi was last seen visiting the Saudi consulate in Istanbul a week ago. Turkish officials believe the journalist, a critic of Saudi Arabia’s government, was killed during that visit.

“It’s a very sad situation. It’s a very bad situation. And we want to get to the bottom of it,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

Asked if the U.S. would hold the Saudi government responsible for Khashoggi’s fate, Trump said he would first “have to find out who did it.” He said he “would rather not say” whether he had spoken to the Saudis about the situation, though he added that “the answer is yes.”

Trump’s comments came as several Hill lawmakers took a tough line on the disappearance.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., warned of “hell to pay” if Khashoggi had been murdered by the Saudi government, adding that “contempt will be met with contempt.”