Slain journalist’s son leaves Saudi Arabia

The son of slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi has left Saudi Arabia, three weeks after his father was murdered in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.

The decision by Saudi Arabia to revoke a travel ban on Salah Khashoggi appears to come after pressure from U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

The U.S.’s top diplomat discussed Jamal Khashoggi’s son during his recent visit to Riyadh and “made it clear” to Saudi leaders that Washington wanted him free to leave the kingdom, according to U.S. State Department spokesman Robert Palladino.

Salah Khashoggi’s destination was not immediately clear. His late father, a critic of Saudi Arabia’s government who was a columnist for The Washington Post among other outlets at the time of his death, lived in the Washington area in self-imposed exile.

CNN and British broadcaster BBC reported Friday that Salah Khashoggi may have already arrived in the U.S. and that he is a dual Saudi-U. S. passport holder. USA Today could not immediately confirm either of those assertions.

Saudi Arabia had banned him from leaving the country several months ago amid his father’s criticism of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the country’s de facto ruler. Salah Khashoggi was pictured this week receiving condolences from the crown prince, who critics believe may have had a hand in Jamal Khashoggi’s death.

CIA director Gina Haspel briefed President Donald Trump on Thursday about her recent trip to Turkey, where she met with investigators. No details of the meeting were released. It’s believed when Haspel was in Turkey she listened to audio recordings Turkey alleges indicate Jamal Khashoggi was tortured and dismembered.

Salah Khashoggi’s departure from Saudi Arabia comes as:

Jamal Khashoggi’s body or remains have still not been found.

Saudi Arabian authorities changed their account Thursday of how journalist Khashoggi was killed, calling his death a “premeditated” murder.

Saudi Arabia’s chief prosecutor will travel to Turkey on Sunday. Saudi Arabia has arrested 18 of its nationals in connection with the killing.