White House senior adviser Jared Kushner
Texas Congressman Member of the House Foreign Affairs and House Intelligence Committees Joaquin Castro accused senior White House adviser Jared Kushner of organizing the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
“Jared Kushner may have, with U.S. intelligence, delivered a hit list, an enemies list, to the crown prince, to MBS, in Saudi Arabia and that the prince may have acted on that, and one of the people he took action against is Mr. Khashoggi,” Castro told CNN on Friday.
“That needs to be investigated,” Castro added, stating that there were links between the Trump administration and Saudi Arabia.
To be clear, I did not intend to accuse @jaredkushner of orchestrating anything. Based on press reporting, I’m asking for Congress to open an investigation of whether any US Intelligence was shared with Saudi Arabia that led to political persecution or killing of #Khashoggi (1/7) https://t.co/31vUT7bEUc
Castro later clarified his comments, tweeting: “To be clear, I did not intend to accuse @jaredkushner of orchestrating anything. Based on press reporting, I’m asking for Congress to open an investigation of whether any US Intelligence was shared with Saudi Arabia that led to political persecution or killing of #Khashoggi.”
Castro’s comments were dubbed “slanderous” by White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
.@JoaquinCastrotx’s allegation is an outrageous slanderous lie without a shred of proof, it’s reprehensible for a sitting Congressman and supposed “news” outlets to continue citing an article that used unnamed sources and was completely debunked.https://t.co/xf2Zhitg8B
Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist and columnist for The Washington Post, had gone missing since entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.
After days of denying to know his whereabouts, Saudi Arabia on Saturday claimed Khashoggi died during a fight inside the consulate.
On the day of Khashoggi’s 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 consul general as well as the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.
Turan Kışlakçı, head of the Turkish-Arab Media Association (TAM), called for justice following Saudi Arabia’s admission that journalist Jamal Khashoggi died in a fight inside its Istanbul consulate“It’s not over yet. We invite the whole world to take action. We want justice for Jamal Khashoggi. We want Khashoggi’s murderers punished, and not just the 15 men responsible but also those who gave the order,” Kışlakçı said.“I am calling out to Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Saudi’s people of reason using the 135th ayah of Surah Nisa: ‘O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm in justice, witnesses for Allah, even if it be against yourselves or parents and relatives. Whether one is rich or poor, Allah is more worthy of both. So follow not [personal] inclination, lest you not be just. And if you distort [your testimony] or refuse [to give it], then indeed Allah is ever, with what you do, Acquainted’,” he added.Amnesty urges UN investigation, independent autopsy in Khashoggi deathKhashoggi, a Saudi journalist and columnist for The Washington Post, had gone missing since entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.After days of denying to know his whereabouts, Saudi Arabia on Saturday claimed Khashoggi died during a fight inside the consulate.“I would like to thank those who have shown sensitivity and reevaluated their economic ties, and the government officials, businessmen and politicians who cancelled their participation in the Riyadh Economic Forum, but we owe the greatest thanks to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who oversaw the situation with devotion and diplomacy,” Kışlakçı said.Many key speakers and partners pulled out from a major investment conference Saudi Arabia planned for later this month following the disappearance of Khashoggi.Bahrain praises Saudi king's decisions: Al Arabiya TVInvestigators likely to discover what happened to Khashoggi body 'before long'Turkey vows to reveal details of Khashoggi's killingEgypt commends 'decisive' and 'brave' actions by Saudi King over Khashoggi caseEuropean Parliament urges investigation on KhashoggiBritain considering 'next steps' after Saudi Arabia admits journalist's deathUAE voices support for Saudi king statement on journalist's death
We want justice for Jamal Khashoggi, says head of Turkish-Arab Media Association
Turkish investigators are likely to find out what happened to the body of slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi "before long", a senior Turkish official said on Saturday.The official, who declined to be identified, also told Reuters that Khashoggi's DNA samples were being obtained from Turkey.Saudi Arabia said on Saturday that Khashoggi had died in a fight inside its Istanbul consulate - Riyadh's first acknowledgement of his death after two weeks of denials that it was involved in his disappearance.Turkish probe locates exact site of Khashoggi killing: Al Jazeera"We'll find out what happened to the body before long," the senior official said. "The DNA is being procured from within Turkey. It seems there will be no need to ask Saudi Arabia at the moment."Khashoggi's killers may have dumped his remains in Belgrad Forest adjacent to Istanbul, and at a rural location near the city of Yalova, a 90-kme (55 mile) drive south of Istanbul, officials told Reuters on Thursday.Investigators were still focused on the Yalova and Belgrad Forest areas, and were looking at CCTV footage from near Belgrad Forest, the senior official said.Investigators were also still examining traffic records of every car that went in and out of the Saudi Consulate on Oct.2, the day Khashoggi entered the consulate, the senior official said. As Khashoggi crisis grows, Saudi king asserts authority, checks son's powerUK academic calls for Saudi sanctions in Khashoggi caseIndonesian journalists urge clarity on Khashoggi case
Investigators likely to discover what happened to Khashoggi body 'before long'
Turkey will get to the bottom of the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Kashoggi, ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party spokesman Omer Çelik said Saturday."Turkey will uncover whatever happened. No one should have doubts about that," Celik told reporters in Istanbul.Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is determined to solve the case by all means, Çelik added.The AK Party official said Turkey will not blame anyone prior to completion of investigation, but nothing should be hidden.He added that many people in the world are following the issue with great interest and are praising the rigorous work of Turkish authorities.Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist and columnist for The Washington Post, had gone missing since entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.After days of denying to know his whereabouts, Saudi Arabia on Saturday claimed Khashoggi died during a fight inside the consulate.On the day of Khashoggi’s 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 consul general as well as the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. Saudi prince behind Khashoggi murder: Ex-MI6 chiefUS 'saddened' over confirmed death of Saudi journalistUN chief ‘deeply troubled’ by Khashoggi’s deathSaudi Arabia sacks top officials over Khashoggi deathSaudi Arabia says Khashoggi died at Istanbul consulateTrump keen, Congress unswayed by Khashoggi explanation
Turkey vows to reveal details of Khashoggi's killing
Britain said on Saturday it was considering the "next steps" after Saudi Arabia acknowledged for the first time that the missing journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed at its consulate in Turkey."We send our condolences to Jamal Khashoggi's family after this confirmation of his death. We are considering the Saudi report and our next steps," the foreign ministry said in a statement. "As the Foreign Secretary has said, this was a terrible act and those responsible must be held to account."Saudi Arabia said on Saturday that he died after a fight broke out between Khashoggi and people who met him in the consulate after two weeks of denials that it had anything to do with his disappearance.Saudi consulate employees in Istanbul give testimony at prosecutor's officeUK academic calls for Saudi sanctions in Khashoggi case
Britain considering 'next steps' after Saudi Arabia admits journalist's death
Six days after Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi disappeared, U.S. President Donald Trump tried to play down the crisis, saying "hopefully that will sort itself out".It did not, and on Oct. 10, amid a growing outcry, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and national security adviser John Bolton pressed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, in what one U.S. official described as a "stern" phone call, to identify who was responsible for Khashoggi's disappearance or death.Trump then seemed to give Saudi Arabia the benefit of the doubt, suggesting "rogue killers" may have been to blame and criticizing a growing view that this was a case of state murder.He changed his tone once again late this week, raising the prospect of sanctions against Riyadh.Trump: Congress to be involved in Khashoggi responseBut when Saudi Arabia finally admitted on Saturday that Khashoggi was dead, saying he was killed in a fight inside the consulate, Trump said the official explanation was "credible" even as Republican and Democratic lawmakers responded with anger and disbelief.Over the last two weeks, Trump has at times spoken of punishing Saudi Arabia but appeared reluctant to follow through against a close economic and security ally in the Middle East, a key player in ensuring the stability of global oil markets, and a major customer of arms deals that he says are "tremendous"."Trump's dug himself into a hole," said Aaron David Miller, a former Middle East adviser to both Democratic and Republican administrations. "He will have to take some kind of action."Behind the scenes, though, Trump's aides scrambled to craft a response, especially as the bipartisan outcry in the Washington establishment grew.Saudi prince behind Khashoggi murder: Ex-MI6 chiefWhen news of Khashoggi's disappearance first broke, aides made clear to White House chief of staff John Kelly that the case was not going away, two senior White House officials said.Kushner, who had cultivated a close personal relationship with the crown prince, commonly known as MbS, urged Trump to act with caution to avoid upsetting a critical strategic and economic relationship, a senior administration official said.Kushner was heavily involved in making Saudi Arabia Trump's first stop on his maiden international trip as president last year.As grim allegations emerged from Turkey about Khashoggi’s death and the Saudis stuck to their denials, Trump felt pressure from congressional Democrats and some of his own Republicans.US 'saddened' over confirmed death of Saudi journalistU.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican close to Trump, accused MbS of ordering Khashoggi's murder and called him a "wrecking ball" jeopardizing relations with the United States.When Riyadh came out with its official version of what happened inside the consulate, Graham quickly tweeted he was "skeptical of the new Saudi narrative".'NOT A U.S. CITIZEN'Trump sought to justify his muted response by pointing out the incident occurred in Turkey and that Khashoggi, a U.S. resident and columnist for the Washington Post, was "not a United States citizen".Critics accused Trump of trying to give the Saudis diplomatic cover and buy time for them to get their story straight, something Trump's aides denied.UN chief ‘deeply troubled’ by Khashoggi’s deathAt the same time, Peter Navarro, Trump’s White House trade chief and architect of his “Buy American” policy to ease restrictions on foreign arms sales, was stressing the importance of Saudi weapons deals and the implications for U.S. jobs, another administration official told Reuters.Trump repeatedly touted the $110 billion in weapons deals he announced during his visit to Saudi Arabia last year, and insisted around 500,000 U.S. jobs were at stake. Experts have dismissed the sales and jobs numbers as highly exaggerated.Some Trump aides raised doubts about the veracity of the Turkish government’s leaks of what it says happened to Khashoggi.But as the days dragged on and evidence of Khashoggi’s death mounted, Trump's view began to shift, White House officials said.Saudi Arabia sacks top officials over Khashoggi deathHe ordered Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to drop what he was doing and fly to Riyadh for talks at mid-week, and was then briefed by him at the White House on Thursday.Critics slammed Pompeo for appearing to hold court in a festive manner with MbS, undercutting the severity of the U.S. message.But one senior White House official countered, saying Pompeo told the Saudi royals that “you need to give us some legitimate information soon, people aren’t just going to let it drag on.'”Speaking to reporters during a trip to Arizona on Friday, Trump said he was ready to “listen to what Congress has to say” about actions to be taken in the Khashoggi case, yet also made clear he wanted to continue to protect defense contracts, and U.S. jobs dependent on them.Congress has already triggered a mechanism for the U.S. Treasury Department to consider human rights sanctions against Saudi Arabia and some lawmakers have vowed to block further arms sales to Riyadh, a move that Trump is likely to oppose.Saudi Arabia says Khashoggi died at Istanbul consulate
Trump a reluctant critic of Saudi Arabia despite pressure to act