Press Club Leaders urge Congress to hold hearings on just-released Khashoggi Report

WASHINGTON – The following is a statement by National Press Club President Lisa Nicole Matthews and National Press Club Journalism Institute President Angela Greiling Keane on the release by the United States government of a long-awaited report on the murder of Washington Post contributor Jamal Khashoggi:

Ever since his gruesome murder in October 2018, we have called for justice for Jamal Khashoggi. While it has taken far too long to come to public light, we are encouraged by the transparency of the report released today detailing the role of Saudi Arabia as a state sponsor of this murder and implicating Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as a central figure in the murder plot.

Several important principles are at stake in this case:

• State actors may not be allowed to unjustly detain and, in this case, murder journalists to silence them.
• The US government must stand up for US journalists even when they are endangered on foreign soil. (Mr. Khashoggi lived in Virginia and was an employee of The Washington Post.) 
• For a democracy to function, it is crucial that the public know the facts, even if they are damning to our allies.

In Bob Woodward’s book, Rage, about President Trump, the former President describes discouraging Congress from investigating the involvement of the Saudi government in Khashoggi’s murder. We urge Congress to use this report as the basis for hearings.

On November 28, 2018 just two months after the murder of Mr. Khashoggi the National Press Club recognized him with the John Aubuchon Award, our highest honor for press freedom. Fred Ryan, publisher of The Washington Post attended to speak and accept the honor for Khashoggi’s family. In Ryan’s remarks, he pointed toward the day when the U.S. government would release a full report on the brutal murder of his employee, Mr. Khashoggi. That day has finally arrived. 

Founded in 1908, the National Press Club is the world's leading professional organization for journalists. The Club has 3,000 members representing nearly every major news organization and is a leading voice for press freedom in the United States and around the world.

The National Press Club Journalism Institute, the Club's non-profit affiliate, promotes an engaged global citizenry through an independent and free press and equips journalists with skills and standards to inform the public in ways that inspire civic engagement.

Press Contact: Lindsay Underwood for the National Press Club; [email protected], (202) 662-7561