Khashoggi case U-turn
US now sees quest questionsons on death of jou journo
Top officials briefed President Trump on Saturday about CIA evidence that Saudi Arabia’s crown prince ordered the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
The briefing with agency head Gina Haspel and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo aboard Air Force One came as Trump flew to California to respond to the state’s deadly wildfires.
Later, the State Department issued a statement that appeared to throw cold water on the strength of the evidence blaming Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. “Recent reports indicating that the US government has made a final conclusion are inaccurate,” it said. “There remain numerous unanswered questions with respect to the murder of Mr. Khashoggi.”
Earlier on Saturday, Trump said, “As of this moment, we were told he had not played a role. ,We’re going to see what they have to say.”
He went on to lavish praise on the Saudis, saying, “We also have a great ally in Saudi Arabia ... They have been a truly spectacular ally in terms of jobs and economic development.”
CIA officials’ reported statements blaming bin Salman came Friday in the face of denials from the Saudi government, which said Thursday it had charged 11 people in Khashoggi’s death.
The CIA cited a phone call that the prince’s brother, Khalid bin Salman, made to Khashoggi, according to The Washington Post. Khalid bin Salman allegedly assured Khashoggi that it would be safe for him to go to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to pick up documents he needed to get married.
The crown prince told his brother to make the call, the newspaper reported. Khalid bin Salman denied the accusation.
A 15-man hit squad flew on a state-owned plane to kill Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist with US residency, in- side the consulate on Oct. 2, according to reports.
Meanwhile, the New York Times reported that Kirsten Fontenrose, a National Security Council official in charge of the Persian Gulf, resigned Friday. The resignation came upon her return from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where she had discussed American sanctions against those identified as responsible in the killing, the paper reported.