US Senators Slam White House Briefing on General Soleimani
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The US lawmakers have criticized the White House officials for failing to present proof justifying Iranian commander General Qassem Soleimani’s assassination without Congress' approval.
Utah Senator Mike Lee, who belongs to US President Donald Trump's Republican Party, has questioned the administration's classified briefing on the killing of General Soleimani, calling it "the worst" that he has ever attended.
In a press conference in Washington, D.C., Lee told reporters that he found it "really upsetting" that Trump's intelligence officials refused to provide information that led to the president's decision to order the Iranian commander’s assassination.
Another Republican Senator Rand Paul said he "did not learn anything from the hearing" that he had not seen previously from news reports, adding that prospects for diplomacy has been diminished because of Trump's action, Al Jazeera reported.
Meanwhile, in an interview with CNN, Democratic Senator Chris Murphy said "there was no evidence of an imminent and specific threat" from General Soleimani to take the US action.
"That was fairly shocking to us, the lack of evidence. Without that, the president doesn't have the authority to take military action, without coming to Congress first."
Majority of the Republicans, who control the Senate, however defended the decision of Trump.
