Washington
The measure, which advanced by a vote of 60-39, is largely symbolic and still faces a final vote. Even if it passes the Senate, the House is not expected to even consider the bill this year and Trump has threatened to veto it if it reaches his desk.
The Yemen measure, a rare bipartisan rebuke of Trump, passed despite fierce White House opposition. It gained support after the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, a U.S. resident and contributing columnist for The Washington Post who was critical of the Saudi royal family.
The CIA has concluded that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the killing. The issue has unified some Republicans and Democrats.
Republican lawmakers have been especially angry with Trump administration officials who sought to downplay the role of Prince Mohammed, the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, in the Oct. 2 killing.
Trump has said the killing, while deplorable, should not jeopardize the 70-year alliance with Saudi Arabia, which includes lucrative arms deals and joint pressure on Iran.
Advocates of the Yemen measure, including Republican Sen. Mike Lee, of Utah; Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders, of Vermont; and Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy, of Connecticut; pushed back on the idea that it is merely a messaging statement. They argue that a Senate rebuke of the war in Yemen — a top priority of the Saudi monarchy and Mohammed especially — is important.
“The time is long overdue for the United States to stop following the lead of Saudi Arabia, a brutal regime that recently murdered a dissident journalist and has no respect for human rights,” she said.
He said he also is motivated by the Senate “reasserting” its constitutional authority to begin wars, calling the U.S. role in Yemen an “unauthorized and unconstitutional war.”