US slams ‘worst cover-up ever’, to revoke visas
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump called the Saudi handling of journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s killing the “worst cover-up ever” and his administration moved to punish Saudi officials responsible by revoking their visas as a first step, with the promise of more action to follow.
“They had a very bad original concept,” Trump told reporters on Tuesday, hours after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s stinging speech detailing the killing. “It was carried out poorly. And the cover-up was one of the worst in the history of cover-ups. Very simple. Bad deal.“
He appeared to hold Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman responsible. “Well, the prince is running things over there, more so at this stage,” he said in an interview to The Wall Street Journal. “He’s running things and so if anybody were going to be, it would be him.”
He added that the matter “should have stopped...at the deal stand point ... Because whoever thought of that idea I think is in big trouble, and they should be in big trouble.”
The first actions were announced by secretary of state Mike Pompeo later on Tuesday. He told reporters the US had identified “some of the individuals responsible, including those in the intelligence services, the
royal court, the foreign ministry, and other Saudi ministries”, who were suspected of involvement in Khashoggi’s death.
“We are taking appropriate actions, which include revoking visas, entering visa lookouts, and other measures,” he added. The state department said 21 Saudi individuals were included in the first round of punishment, and stand to have their US visas revoked or be denied visas if they apply.