GOP Rep. Chris Stewart Defends Trump on Khashoggi: 'Journalists Disappear' All the Time

[DonViejo]

During an interview with CNN’s Brianna Keilar on Tuesday, Rep. Chris Stewart (R-UT) defended President Donald Trump’s decision to stand by Saudi Arabia despite overwhelming evidence that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was behind the murder of U.S.-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Admitting that it’s possible MBS ordered the killing, Stewart, who serves on the House Intelligence Committee, said, “We have to have to have a relationship with some players that we don’t agree with. Journalists disappear all over the country. 20 journalists have been killed in Mexico. You don't think it happens in Turkey and China? Of course it does. And yet we have to have a relationship with these individuals, or with these countries.” The comments echoed those made by Trump, who told reporters last month, “I’m not going to destroy the world economy and I’m not going to destroy the economy for our country by being foolish with Saudi Arabia.” Earlier on Tuesday, Republican senators who attended a classified briefing from CIA Director Gina Haspel on Khashoggi’s killing emerged more confident than ever that MBS was guilty. “No question in my mind. I had almost no question before. I have no question whatsoever now,” Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) said, “that the crown prince directed the murder and was kept apprised of the situation all the way through.”

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

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https://www.thedailybeast.com/gop-rep-chris-stewart-defends-trump-on-khashoggi-journalists-disappear-all-the-time?ref=home

[Eugene]

1. Reccing for the sheer depravity.

Whataboutism, not even well executed at that.

[SWBTATTReg]

2. This is disgusting...and not true. Some defender of free speech eh? Chris Stewart needs to be ...

kicked out of office now.

GOP Rep. Chris Stewart Defends Trump on Khashoggi: 'Journalists Disappear' All the Time

[Wellstone ruled]

7. So agree with you

about kicking this POS out of office. Was on the Team that tried in 2012,our Dem Candidate only pulled 26% of the vote. Sad to say,know of and known Chris for some time. The Priesthood got him elected and they have successfully reelected him now some three times.

In Utah,this Guy is like the Holy Grail,and that District is so Gerrymandered,he will have to really screw up in order to be replaced.

He is a Asshole of the first degree. And to think,his brother was appointed by Obama to be a Federal Judge in Utah.

[handmade34]

3. heartless...

crass, bereft of any soul... this seems to be the whole of the Republican party today.

[Corgigal]

4. He didn't disappear,

he was murdered. However, Rep. Stewart can do us all a favor and disappear as soon as possible.

[DFW]

5. OK, so journalists disappear all the time

But that is in places like Saudi Arabia, Russia and Turkey.

Are the Republicans now saying these places are our role models, or that their tactics involving uncomfortable journalists are perfectly justified? Or even a "necessary evil?"

Once upon a time, my father, a Washington correspondent for a one-horse town in "the hinterlands," was one of those "uncomfortable journalists." Even Nixon, a depraved paranoid if ever there was one, didn't even consider a move like that against my dad, and nor did my father fear one. My dad knew Nixon from the days of the Kitchen debate on Moscow with Khrushchev, and Nixon knew perfectly well what his sentiments were.

This is not "business as usual." This is dirty business, and we as a country have NO business looking the other way.

[area51]

6. "Journalists disappear all over the country"

What?

[majdrfrtim]

8. But I'm sure he's a "family values" Republican!

That is, "crime family" values!!

He seems nice. /s