CIA Director Gina Haspel
CIA Director Gina Haspel is en route to Turkey to discuss the case of missing Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, according to multiple reports Monday.
The move comes after U.S. President Donald Trump hinted earlier in the day that America has its top intelligence officials in Turkey and Saudi Arabia to gather the facts surrounding Khashoggi's disappearance.
"I have a great group of people in Turkey right now and a great group of people in Saudi Arabia. We will know very soon" what happened to Khashoggi, Trump said.
The CIA declined to comment on Haspel's reported travel when asked about the matter by Anadolu Agency.
Her visit comes as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan prepares to announce the initial findings of Ankara's investigation Tuesday and mounting skepticism over the Saudi explanation of what happened to the U.S. resident and Saudi Arabian national.
After denying knowledge of Khashoggi's whereabouts for two weeks, Saudi Arabia on Saturday said he was killed during a fight inside its Istanbul consulate.
His body has not been recovered, nor has Saudi Arabia explained its shifting narrative on what transpired.
Trump said Monday he is "not satisfied" with Saudi Arabia's explanation for Khashoggi's disappearance -- just days after calling it a "great first step".
Khashoggi was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.
On the day of his disappearance, 15 other Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and visited the consulate while he was still inside, according to Turkish police sources. All of the identified individuals have since left Turkey.
A joint Turkish-Saudi team completed an investigation into the case on Thursday after searching the residence of the Saudi consul general as well as the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
Turkey will go until the end to enlighten the "nefarious murder" of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the spokesman for President Tayyip Erdoğan said on Monday.Khashoggi went missing on Oct. 2 when he entered the consulate in Istanbul. After weeks of denying knowledge of his fate, Saudi officials said the prominent journalist was killed in a "rogue operation".Speaking to reporters after a cabinet meeting, Ibrahim Kalin said nothing would remain in the dark about the investigation on Khashoggi's killing, adding Saudi officials had a responsibility to reveal the truths about the killing.Turkey says Khashoggi murder complicated and 'monstrously planned'Erdoğan says will discuss Khashoggi case with Turkey's ministers on MondayFootage of Saudi operative dressed in Khashoggi's clothes after journalist's death emergesTurkey expects U.S. to lift sanctionsTurkey expects the United States to lift the sanctions it has imposed on it after the release of U.S. evangelical Christian pastor Andrew Brunson, the spokesman İbrahim Kalin said.Ties between Ankara and Washington have been strained over a host of issues, including Brunson's detention, and the United States has imposed sanctions and tariffs on Ankara, prompting a currency crisis in Turkey that saw the lira currency plunge more than 40 percent this year.Brunson was released on Oct. 12 after being held in prison and house arrest for some two years while being tried on terrorism charges, which he has denied.
Turkey says will enlighten 'nefarious murder' of Khashoggi
White House senior adviser Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump's son in law, said on Monday the United States is still in a "fact-finding" phase on the murder of dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.Asked about the credibility of a Saudi investigation of the killing that took place in their Istanbul consulate, Kushner told CNN: "We're getting facts in from multiple places."Khashoggi saw Turkey as key country in new Middle EastUS congressman says Jared Kushner may have organized Khashoggi murder
US in 'fact-finding phase' on Khashoggi: Kushner
The killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi is a complicated murder that has been "monstrously planned", the spokesman for Turkey's ruling AK party said on Monday."Jamal Khashoggi's killing is a monstrously planned and a very complicated murder, which was being covered up," Çelik said at the party headquarters."I hope those responsible for Khashoggi's killing are punished and no one ever thinks of repeating this."Çelik also said claims of negotiations between Turkey and Saudi Arabia as part of the investigation into Khashoggi's killing were unethical, adding it was Turkey's responsibility to uncover the truth about the case.Khashoggi went missing on Oct. 2 when he entered the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul. After weeks of denying knowledge of his fate, Saudi officials said the prominent journalist was killed in a "rogue operation".Erdoğan says will discuss Khashoggi case with Turkey's ministers on MondayFootage of Saudi operative dressed in Khashoggi's clothes after journalist's death emergesSome lie and some die: Saudi media and Khashoggi affairPrince Salman backed into tight corner as links to Khashoggi murder become clearer
Turkey says Khashoggi murder complicated and 'monstrously planned'
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said he will discuss an ongoing investigation into the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi with members of the cabinet at a meeting on Monday.Khashoggi went missing on Oct. 2 when he entered the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul. After weeks of denying knowledge of his fate, Saudi officials said the prominent journalist was killed in a "rogue operation".Footage of Saudi operative dressed in Khashoggi's clothes after journalist's death emergesPrince Salman backed into tight corner as links to Khashoggi murder become clearerAK Party willing to increase women mayors in his partyErdoğan said the number of women mayors in his ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party are "not enough" and that it should increase.Speaking at a training program of AK Party women’s branch at the party's headquarters in Ankara, Erdoğan said the number of women mayors should reflect the proportion of women in the population."AK Party has eight women mayors. We do not see this as adequate. Our desire is to reflect a proportional picture according to the population," Erdoğan stressed.Erdoğan said the full reflection of the results of June 24 general elections in Turkey will be related to the success of the upcoming 2019 local elections.The local elections are set to be held on March 31, 2019.
Erdoğan says will discuss Khashoggi case with Turkey's ministers on Monday