According to CNN’s Clarissa Ward and Tim Lister, Saudi Arabia will reportedly admit to killing missing Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi in an ‘interrogation gone wrong’.
Via CNN.com:
The Saudis are preparing a report that will acknowledge Jamal Khashoggi’s death was the result of an interrogation that went wrong — one that was intended to lead to his abduction from Turkey, according to two sources.
One source says the report will likely conclude that the operation was carried out without clearance and transparency and that those involved will be held responsible.
One of the sources acknowledged that the report is still being prepared and cautioned that things could change.
That’s interesting considering this is what they told Donald Trump today who seemed to buy it:
Just spoke to the King of Saudi Arabia who denies any knowledge of whatever may have happened “to our Saudi Arabian citizen.” He said that they are working closely with Turkey to find answer. I am immediately sending our Secretary of State to meet with King!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 15, 2018
So you’re saying that the King of Saudi Arabia flat out lied to the President of the United States? Noooooo… Can’t be.
Anyways keep an eye on what the American response will be. Several senators have mentioned retaliation from the United States including Lindsey Graham who said there would be ‘hell to pay’ if the Saudi’s were in fact responsible for Khashoggi’s death. Meanwhile, Donald Trump was reserved in saying what exactly his response would be choosing to be uncharacteristically patient for all the facts to come out.
Well… it looks like a lot of facts are about to be released and it doesn’t look good for the Saudi government on the world stage.
As far as Khashoggi goes, the Saudi journalist hasn’t been seen or heard from since footage shows him entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in Turkey on October 2. Khashoggi’s fiancée, Hatice Cengiz who was waiting outside the consulate for him didn’t report him re-emerging while Turkish officials say they have evidence that proves Khashoggi was killed while inside the consulate.
Saudi Arabia has maintained that Khashoggi left the consulate using a back door on his own free will.
Khashoggi has long been a critic of the Saudi government and more notably the Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman who is believed to have ordered the hit on the Washington Post contributor.
