Turkey says Trump ‘turning a blind eye’ to Khashoggi’s killing

AMMAN, Jordan — For months, Turkish officials have been leaking gruesome details surrounding Jamal Khashoggi’s death as a counter to President Donald Trump’s moves to absolve Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Trump ally thought to be behind the Saudi journalist’s slaying.

But Ankara took a more direct approach on Friday, with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu slamming Trump for “turning a blind eye” in Khashoggi’s death, and accusing him of putting money above human values.

Trump’s statements in support of the prince mean that the president is saying, in essence, “‘Whatever happens, I will turn a blind eye,’ ” Cavusoglu said in an interview Friday with CNN’s Turkish affiliate, CNN Turk. “This is not the right approach. Money is not everything. We shouldn’t abandon our humanitarian values.”

Cavusoglu’s rebuke echoes those from other Turkish officials, who have described as comical an exclamation-point-filled message this week from the president concerning reports that the crown prince ordered Khashoggi’s slaying.

“Maybe he did, maybe he didn’t,” Trump wrote Tuesday in a 633-word message, later adding, “In any case, our relationship is with Saudi Arabia.” He also thanked the kingdom for its support against Iran and “keeping oil prices at reasonable levels.”

Khashoggi, a onetime Saudi government insider who left the kingdom last year and became a U.S. resident and Washington Post columnist, disappeared after entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, on Oct. 2.