ARMS/SAUDI ARABIA/SENATE/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “A bipartisan group of senators will try to block the Trump administration’s use of emergency authority to sell arms to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, setting up a possible showdown with the White House. The resolutions of disapproval come after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Congress the administration would move forward with billions of dollars in arms sales using an emergency provision in the Arms Export Control Act. The resolutions are the latest example of tension between senators and the White House over what role Congress should play in U.S. foreign policy decisions. Senators from both parties have attempted to punish Saudi Arabia over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who was murdered at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul last year. The CIA believes Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman directed Khashoggi’s killing. Among the co-sponsors of the resolutions are Sens. Bob Menendez, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a close ally of President Donald Trump. Menendez, in a statement, called on Pompeo to withdraw the emergency certification and have Congress review the sales.”
–Marianne Levine, “Senators will try to block Trump’s arms sales to Saudi Arabia,” Politico, June 5, 2019 11:41 am