Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman can’t be sued in the U.S. over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi because as a head of government he’s immune, the Biden administration told a judge.
The administration was responding to a request from U.S. District Judge John Bates in Washington for input about sovereign immunity in a lawsuit filed by Khashoggi’s fiance, Hatice Cengiz. If the judge adopts the U.S. finding, it would effectively end the lawsuit.
“The United States Government has expressed grave concerns regarding Jamal Khashoggi’s horrific killing and has raised these concerns publicly and with the most senior levels of the Saudi government,” the government said in the filing late Thursday. “Prime Minister bin Salman as a sitting head of government is immune while in office from the jurisdiction of the United States District Court in this suit.”
