• Rep. Eugene Vindman calls for the release of Trump’s 2019 call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
• Vindman describes the call as "shocking," suggesting it involved a quid pro quo.
• Dozens of congressional Democrats support Vindman’s demand for transparency.
• White House communications director belittles Vindman, branding him a "serial liar."
• Khashoggi’s widow emphasizes the need for accountability regarding her husband's death.

Representative Eugene Vindman, a former member of Donald Trump’s National Security Council, has publicly urged the White House to disclose a transcript of Trump’s 2019 conversation with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, following the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Vindman asserted that “the Khashoggi family and the American people deserve to know what was in that call... the receipts will raise serious questions,” during a news conference with Khashoggi's widow, Hanan Elatr Khashoggi, according to The Hill, Reuters, and South China Morning Post.

Describing the call as "shocking," Vindman implied that it contained elements of quid pro quo, suggesting that Trump offered favors in exchange for something else, although he refrained from disclosing specific details due to its classified nature. The matter has gained traction as dozens of Congressional Democrats align with Vindman in a letter urging the transcript's release, according to Reuters and South China Morning Post.

Following a recent meeting where Trump "lavishly welcomed" bin Salman, the former President defended the Crown Prince against U.S. intelligence conclusions that suggested he approved the operation that led to Khashoggi’s death. Trump claimed, “He knew nothing about the killing,” as he faced backlash for his comments regarding Khashoggi, a critic of the Saudi regime, according to The Hill, Reuters, and South China Morning Post.

In response to Vindman’s comments, White House communications director Steven Cheung dismissed the lawmaker, labelling him a "bitter backbencher" and "serial liar," underscoring the contentious political atmosphere surrounding this issue. Vindman, whose brother Alexander also served on the National Security Council and exposed Trump’s infamous call with Ukrainian President Zelenskiy, stated he was particularly concerned by both that interaction and the call with bin Salman, marking a significant moment in U.S. political history, as captured by Reuters and South China Morning Post.