Yemen resolution picks up crucial support in Senate

A resolution that would force President Trump to end U.S. support for Saudi Arabia’s military actions in Yemen is picking up support even after top administration officials lobbied against the measure during a closed-door briefing. 

Multiple senators who previously voted against the same resolution in March emerged from the meeting saying they would support taking it up this time, underscoring the growing frustration with the Saudi government on Capitol Hill. 

Sen. Christopher Coons (D-Del.) said he would support the resolution, saying he was dissatisfied by the briefing and calling it a “significant mistake” not to send CIA Director Gina Haspel.

“I think it is more important that the United States continue to demonstrate to the world that we value a free press, that we hold our close allies to high standards and that we will continue to stand for the basic values that define the United States,” Coons said. 

Sens. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) also said they would vote in favor of the resolution. Like Coons, they each voted to table the same resolution in March.{mosads}

Menendez called Haspel’s absence a “cover-up” and “outrageous,” arguing the chamber was being stonewalled. 

“I heard nothing convincing as it relates to why we would not proceed with the Sanders-Lee and others resolution,” he said, referring to Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah), two sponsors of the bill. 

The growing support for the resolution is a blow to the administration, which has launched an eleventh-hour effort to squash the resolution. 

Defense Secretary James Mattis and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke with senators during a briefing Wednesday, warning that if the Senate moved forward with the resolution it would undercut negotiations with Saudi Arabia. 

“I know all too well the difficulty in reconciling human aspirations with war’s grim reality; but I also recognize that we cannot limit civilian casualties or advance the peace effort commencing early next month in Sweden by disengaging,” Mattis said, according to prepared remarks.

The resolution would require Trump to pull all troops in or “affecting” Yemen within 30 days. It’s expected to get an initial vote as soon as Wednesday afternoon. 

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), another sponsor of the resolution, stopped short of predicting success but argued the administration’s briefing didn’t win over any concerned senators. 

“I’m more confident after that briefing that we have the votes,” Murphy told reporters.

The same resolution fell six votes short in March. The support coming out of the briefing, as well as Sen. Jack Reed’s (D-R.I.) announcement on Tuesday night that he will support the bill puts the resolution on the precipice of having enough votes to at least be brought up on the floor.

Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), the Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman, predicted that, absent action from the administration, the Senate would vote to take up the resolution in part because it’s amendable, meaning senators could change it on the Senate floor.

“The Yemen resolution is amendable. so the first vote is just to get on it,” he told reporters. “We’re very likely to support a vehicle that allows us to somehow or another address this.”