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Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12) signed on as an original cosponsor of bipartisan legislation led by Rep. Jim McGovern (MA-02) to prohibit all U.S arms sales to government of Saudi Arabia until the Secretary of State determines that the Saudi regime is not responsible for the disappearance or death of Jamal Khashoggi. If the Saudi government is found to be culpable in Mr. Khashoggi’s disappearance, the legislation prohibits all U.S. military aid and sales to Saudi Arabia until Congress passes a resolution approving such sales.

“It has been over two weeks since Jamal Khashoggi was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, and the American people deserve answers to the questions surrounding his disappearance,” said Dingell. “Congress must make clear that human rights and freedom of expression are a priority for the United States of America. It is imperative the Saudi government provides a full and fair accounting of the facts surrounding Mr. Khashoggi’s disappearance, and we must continue to push for transparency in this regard.”

On October 2, 2018, Jamal Khashoggi, a US-based Saudi journalist and commentator on Middle East affairs, entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to fill out some paperwork relating to a pending marriage and has not been seen since. There is no record of Mr. Khashoggi having left the consulate, and there have been conflicting reports as to his fate and whereabouts. Last week, Congresswoman Dingell led a letter with 27 of her colleagues to the Saudi Ambassador pushing for an independent investigation into this matter.