CIA Director Gina Haspel
CIA Director Gina Haspel listened to an audio tape of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s interrogation and murder during a visit to Turkey, The Washington Post reported Wednesday.
“Haspel, who departed for a secret trip to Turkey on Monday, heard the audio during her visit, according to people familiar with her meetings,” said the U.S. daily.
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 says will enlighten 'nefarious murder' of KhashoggiUS in 'fact-finding phase' on Khashoggi: KushnerTurkey says Khashoggi murder complicated and 'monstrously planned'Erdoğan says will discuss Khashoggi case with Turkey's ministers on Monday
CIA Director on way to Turkey for Khashoggi case
“A person familiar with the audio said it was ‘compelling’ and could put more pressure on the United States to hold Saudi Arabia accountable for the death of Khashoggi,” the newspaper reported.
Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post, was last seen on Oct. 2 when he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
After days of denying any knowledge of his whereabouts, Saudi officials last week admitted that Khashoggi was killed in a "brawl" at the consulate.
U.S. President Donald Trump, in his strongest remarks so far, said Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bears ultimate responsibility as de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia for the operation that led to the death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, indicating that the prince is "running things over there" in Riyadh.Speaking to the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday, Trump said he wanted to believe the prince's claim that lower level officials were to blame for the Oct. 2 killing at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, but suggested responsibility lay higher up.Asked about Prince Mohammed’s possible involvement, Trump said: "Well, the prince is running things over there more so at this stage. He's running things and so if anybody were going to be, it would be him."Trump said he was convinced King Salman had no advance knowledge of the incident, according to the Journal.Saudi officials refuse to allow Turkish police to search well in consulateEarlier on Tuesday, the president told reporters at the White House that Saudi authorities had staged the "worst cover-up ever" over the incident, and that they had handled the matter badly.The brutal death of Khashoggi, a U.S. resident and Washington Post columnist critical of the crown prince, has sparked global outrage and threatened relations between Riyadh and Washington as well as other Western nations.In his interview with the Journal, Trump said he had asked the prince multiple times about the matter.France says will take no 'hasty decision' on links with Saudi Arabia"My first question to him was, 'Did you know anything about it in terms of the initial planning?'" Trump told the Journal, adding that the prince told him that he did not.The president said he asked the prince "'Where did it start?' And he said it started at lower levels."Asked if he believed the denials, Trump told the newspaper: "I want to believe them. I really want to believe them," he said.The United States also on Tuesday vowed to revoke the visas of some of those believed to be behind the attack.Turkey, which is investigating the killing, has dismissed Saudi efforts to blame rogue operatives and has promised to hold those behind Khashoggi's death responsible.Iran: Riyadh would not have murdered Khashoggi without US protectionEurope’s interest is to clear Khashoggi case: TuskTurkey won't let Khashoggi killers escape justice: ErdoğanKhashoggi body double used ‘to aid cover-up’ of killing: AP
Trump says Saudi prince 'running things,' could be behind Khashoggi death: WSJ
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday that Saudi Arabia would not have murdered prominent journalist Jamal Khashoggi without American protection, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).President Donald Trump said on Tuesday Saudi authorities staged the "worst cover-up ever" in the killing of Khashoggi in Turkey this month, as the United States vowed to revoke the visas of some of those believed to be responsible."No one would imagine that in today's world and a new century that we would witness such an organised murder and a system would plan out such a heinous murder," Rouhani said, according to IRNA.Europe’s interest is to clear Khashoggi case: Tusk"I don't think that a country would dare commit such a crime without the protection of America."Iran and Saudi Arabia are regional rivals and have supported opposing sides in the conflicts in Syria and Yemen and different political factions in Iraq and Lebanon.U.S. protection has allowed Saudi Arabia to carry out bombings against civilians in Yemen's war, Rouhani said, according to IRNA."If there was no American protection, would the people of Yemen still have faced the same brutal bombing?" Rouhani said.Erdoğan says will not let those responsible for Khashoggi killing avoid justiceKhashoggi body double used ‘to aid cover-up’ of killing: APUN would investigate Khashoggi if Turkey requests
Iran: Riyadh would not have murdered Khashoggi without US protection