Trump administration denies reaching conclusion on killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi
- Saudi government denies claim that country’s crown prince ordered the killing
- Trump spoke to CIA Director Gina Haspel and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo about the matter
The Trump administration denied on Saturday that it had reached a final determination about Jamal Khashoggi, whose murder in the Saudi Consulate in Turkey was ordered by the kingdom’s crown prince, according to a US official has said.
After President Donald Trump called his CIA chief and top diplomat from Air Force One as he flew to survey wildfire damage in California, the State Department released a statement saying “recent reports indicating that the US government has made a final conclusion are inaccurate.” The Saudi government has denied the claim.
American intelligence agencies have concluded that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the killing, according to the US official familiar with that assessment. The official was not authorised to discuss the matter publicly and spoke only condition of anonymity Friday. The conclusion was first reported by The Washington Post.
Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in the statement that the government was “determined to hold all those responsible for the killing of Jamal Khashoggi accountable” and that “there remain numerous unanswered questions with respect to the murder”.
She said the department “will continue to seek all relevant facts” and consult Congress and other nations “to hold accountable those involved in the killing”.