Trump talks to CIA chief on Khashoggi killing as Washington remains clueless about Saudi plot
Iran Press TV
Sat Nov 17, 2018 10:03PM
US President Donald Trump has spoken with CIA Director Gina Haspel about the role of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the assassination of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey.
Trump told reporters on the South Lawn of the White House on Saturday that "We haven't been briefed yet."
The president had already been shown evidence of the prince's involvement in the killing, and privately he remains skeptical, according to an unnamed Trump aide talking to The Washington Post.
The US president has reportedly been trying to avoid blaming the crown prince for the embarrassing plot and cover-up.
Trump spoke with Haspel and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during his flight to California.
The CIA has reportedly concluded with high confidence that bin Mohammed was behind the killing at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul last month.
US lawmakers and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan maintain that the crown prince and other top Saudi leaders should be held accountable for Khashoggi's assassination.
Saudi Arabia has acknowledged the murder, yet left many questions unanswered.
US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert issued a statement Saturday, asserting that Washington has not yet made any "final conclusion."
"Recent reports indicating that the US government has made a final conclusion are inaccurate," Nauert said. "There remain numerous unanswered questions with respect to the murder of Mr. Khashoggi. The State Department will continue to seek all relevant facts. In the meantime, we will continue to consult Congress, and work with other nations to hold accountable those involved in the killing of Jamal Khashoggi."
Turkish intelligence intercepts reportedly show that Khashoggi, who was last seen entering the Saudi mission in Istanbul on October 2, was murdered on a direct order from Saudi de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman
Khashoggi had been there to obtain a document certifying he divorced his ex-wife.
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