CIA concludes that Saudi crown prince ordered Jamal Khashoggi’s assassination
- US sources say the agency concluded Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader was involved after analysing intelligence, including phone calls
- CIA’s assessment of Mohammed is he ‘goes from zero to 60, doesn’t seem to understand that there are some things you can’t do’
The CIA has concluded that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul last month, contradicting the Saudi government’s claims he was not involved, according to people familiar with the matter.
The CIA’s assessment, in which officials have said they have high confidence, is the most definitive so far linking the prince to the operation and complicates the Trump administration’s efforts to preserve its relationship with a close ally.
A team of 15 Saudi agents flew to Istanbul on government aircraft in October and killed Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate, where he had gone to pick up documents he needed for his marriage to a Turkish woman.
Vice President Mike Pence told reporters travelling with him at a summit of Pacific Rim nations in Papua New Guinea that he could not comment on “classified information”. He said Saturday “the murder of Jamal Khashoggi was an atrocity. It was also an affront to a free and independent press, and the United States is determined to hold all of those accountable who are responsible for that murder.”
The United States will “follow the facts”, Pence said, while trying to find a way of preserving a “strong and historic partnership” with Saudi Arabia.