The Senate voted 63-37 to bring to the floor a measure to limit presidential war powers in Yemen. It was the strongest signal yet that Republican and Democratic senators alike remain vehemently skeptical of the administration’s insistence that the Saudi crown prince cannot, with certainty, be blamed for the death of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

While the vote showed widespread disapproval of the administration’s stance, it did not necessarily indicate that the measure will ultimately be approved.

It took place hours after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis briefed senators about the Yemen conflict in a classified discussion, which the administration had hoped would convince lawmakers that Saudi Arabia must remain a vital American ally.

But many senators had insisted that Gina Haspel, the CIA director, also be there to answer questions about Khashoggi’s death. U.S. officials have said the CIA — which Pompeo led until the spring — has concluded that the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, ordered the killing in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul last month.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a stalwart supporter of President Donald Trump in recent months, vowed to freeze the administration’s legislative priorities until Haspel spoke to the Senate.

He also promised there would “be no business as usual with Saudi Arabia” if U.S. intelligence confirmed that Crown Prince Mohammed was involved in Khashoggi’s killing. One U.S. official said that was precisely why the administration did not want Haspel to participate in the briefing.

The CIA’s press secretary, Timothy Barrett, denied that Haspel was blocked from attending, and noted that agency officials had already discussed its findings with the Senate Intelligence Committee and congressional leaders.

The vote was striking for its defections by Republicans who in the past had supported the yearslong military alliance between the United States and Saudi Arabia. As part of the Saudi-led coalition against Houthi rebels in Yemen, which began with a bombing campaign in 2015, the Pentagon is mostly providing military advisers and intelligence.

The New York Times

Gardiner Harris, Eric Schmitt, Helene Cooper and Nicholas Fandos © 2018 The New York Times