Congressman says event is a ‘PR stunt’ to distract from their human rights abuses

By David Wildstein, July 29 2022 1:44 pm

A Saudi Golf League tournament being held at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster this weekend has drawn the fury of a local congressman who thinks its offensive that the event will be held less than 50 miles from the site of the World Trade Center  “while the 9/11 families are still seeking declassification of records on possible links between Saudi officials and the hijackers.”

Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-Ringoes), who represents Bedminster, says it’s wrong for former President Donald Trump to take money from the Saudis while Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed is “whitewashing his human rights record.”

“The Saudi LIV league has been from the outset a transparent attempt by Saudi Arabia to improve its image without improving its conduct,” said Malinowski.  “The Saudis have thrown grotesque sums of money at players willing to abandon the U.S. Professional Golfers Association and at their other American partners – money they made by keeping the price of oil artificially high after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a policy that has helped Putin and hurt America.”

A former assistant U.S. Secretary of State for human rights before running for Congress, Malinowski says the State Department believes the Saudi government under Mohammed bin Salman “has murdered journalists, imprisoned and tortured women advocating for the right to drive, locked away teenagers for social media posts, and prevented American citizens and their families from leaving Saudi Arabia.”

“Now they’re spending big money made at the expense of American consumers on a PR stunt to distract our attention from their abuses. New Jersey’s golf clubs and America’s professional athletes should have nothing to do with this,” the two-term congressman said.  “I hope that those who have gotten involved with the Saudi LIV league will consider the moral, reputational, and long-term financial risks of their decision and reconsider it.”