GOP lawmaker: ‘I was excited’ to meet Saudi crown prince

President Biden’s decision to sit down with Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman is fraught with controversy given the Saudi leader’s approval of the gruesome killing of a U.S.-based journalist, repression of political dissidents at home and a human rights record that has faced international criticism.

But for three House Republican lawmakers who visited the kingdom last month, sitting down with the crown prince meant fostering a key ally, even if it’s one that comes with some discord.

“I wanted to meet with the crown prince because the Saudis are one of our biggest allies in the world,” Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-Pa) told The Hill.