Clinton: Trump ‘Part of the Cover-Up’ in Khashoggi Killing

Clinton kicked off a paid speaking tour in Toronto by hitting the president over his response to the killing of Khashoggi in a Saudi Arabian consulate last month, saying that Trump and “those closest to him” have their “own personal” interests, The Hill reported on Thursday.

We have a president who is part of the cover-up as to what happened in that consulate or embassy when Mr. Khashoggi was murdered,” Clinton said.

“And we have a president and those closest to him who have their own personal commercial interests,” she added.

Trump and his administration have come under heavy criticism over the White House response to Khashoggi’s death inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

Trump has indicated that the US government will remain allies with Saudi Arabia, saying sanctions or punishment taken against the kingdom over Khashoggi could cause oil prices to spike.

“If you want to see oil prices go to $150 a barrel ... all you have to do is break up our relationship with Saudi Arabia,” he said last week.

The president has also refused to blame Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman for the killing, even as reports emerged that the CIA has concluded that the crown prince likely ordered the assassination.

"I hate the crime and I hate what is done and I hate the cover-up," Trump said last Tuesday. "And I will tell you this, the crown prince hates it more than I do."

Clinton was in Toronto with her husband, former President Bill Clinton, to start a 13-date speaking tour.