White House seeks to delay decision on Prince Mohammed immunity over Khashoggi murder

The Biden administration asked a US judge for a 60-day extension before it formally weighed in on whether Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi crown prince, ought to be granted sovereign immunity in a case involving the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.

The judge in the case granted the US government its request and gave it until 3 October to submit a statement of interest.

John Bates, a district court judge, said in early July that he was inviting the US government to weigh in on legal questions about whether the trial should go forward, and whether the US had an interest in the case. He also said he would hold a hearing on 31 August after motions to dismiss the civil case by Prince Mohammed and others.