Vice President Mike Pence
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said on Wednesday the United States is ready to help in any way in the investigation of the disappearance of prominent Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Pence was asked on the Hugh Hewitt syndicated radio program if Washington would send FBI technicians to the Saudi consulate in Turkey if Saudi Arabia requested it. "I think the United States of America stands ready to assist in any way," Pence said. Khashoggi was last seen entering the consulate on Oct. 2.
New details are being obtained about the 15-member Saudi intelligence team that came to Istanbul on the very same day that prominent Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi disappeared.A group of 15 Saudi nationals, including some officials arrived in Istanbul and entered the consulate on Oct. 2, the same day Khashoggi was there, and later left the country.They used two private jets: the HZ-SK1 and the HZ-SK2.The names of Saudi officials who used two jets from Riyadh to Istanbul are: “Meshal Saad M Albostani, Salah Muhammed A Tubaigy, Naif Hassan S. Alarifi, Muhammed Saad H. Alzahrani, Mansur Othman M. Abahüseyin, Halid Aedh G. Altaibi, Abdulaziz Muhammed M. Alhawsawi, Waleed Abdullah M. Alsehri, Türki Müşerref M. Alsehri, Thaar Ghaleb T. Alharbi, Maher Abdulaziz M. Mutreb, Badr Lafi M. Alotaibi, Mustafa Muhammed M. Almadani, and Saif Saad Q Alqahtani.”Khashoggi was last seen a week ago entering the consulate in Istanbul to get documents related to his forthcoming marriage. His fiancée, waiting outside, said he never emerged and Turkish sources said they believe Khashoggi, a prominent critic of Saudi policies, was killed inside the mission.Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdoğan asked Saudi Arabia on Monday to prove its assertion that Khashoggi left the consulate.Video: Footage emerges of 15-member Saudi intelligence team arriving in IstanbulDetails of Saudi intelligence team1- Meshal Saad M Albostani, born in 1987, passed through passport control at 01.45 a.m., stayed at the Wyndham Grand Hotel and took off at 9.46 p.m. on a private jet belonging to Sky Prime Aviation.2- Salah Muhammad ATubaigy, born in 1971, arrived in Istanbul on Oct. 2 at 03.38 a.m. on a private jet belonging to Sky Prime Aviation and stayed at the Movenpick Hotel. He took off at 08.29 p.m.3- Naif Hassan S. Alarifi, born in 1986, passed through passport control at 04.12 p.m., stayed at the Wyndham Grand Hotel and took off at 9.45 p.m. on a private jet belonging to Sky Prime Aviation.4- Muhammad Saad H. Alzahrani, born in 1988, arrived in Istanbul on a scheduled flight and passed through passport control at 04:29 p.m. He stayed at the Wyndham Grand Hotel and later took off at 9.44 p.m. on a private jet belonging to Sky Prime Aviation.5- Mansur Othman M. Abahüseyin, born in 1972, arrived at Istanbul Atatürk Airport on a scheduled flight and passed through passport control at 04:13 a.m. He stayed at the Wyndham Grand Hotel and departed at 09.45 p.m.6- Halid Aedh G. Altaibi, born in 1988, arrived at Istanbul Atatürk Airport on a scheduled flight and went through passport control at 01:44 a.m. He stayed at the Wyndham Grand Hotel and departed at 08.28 p.m.7- Abdulaziz Muhammad M. Alhawsawi, born in 1987, arrived at Istanbul Atatürk Airport on a scheduled flight and passed through passport control at 01:43 a.m. He stayed at the Wyndham Grand Hotel and left at 08.28 p.m.8- Waleed Abdullah M. Alsehri, born in 1980, arrived at Atatürk Airport on a private jet belonging to Sky Prime Aviation at 03.41 a.m. He stayed at the Movenpick Hotel and passed through passport check for his return flight at 5.44 p.m.9-Turki Musharraf M. Alsehri, born in 1982, arrived in Istanbul on a private jet 03.49 a.m., stayed at the Movenpick Hotel and left the city at 05.44 a.m. on the same jet.10- Thaar Ghaleb T. Alharbi, born in 1979, arrived at Atatürk Airport on a private airplane owned by Sky Prime Aviation, stayed at the Movenpick Hotel, and later took off at 05.44 p.m. for his return to Riyadh.11 – Maher Abdulaziz M. Mutreb, born in 1971, arrived on a private jet at Istanbul’s Atatürk Airport, passed through passport control at 03:38 a.m. He stayed at the Movenpick Hotel during his visit and left the country at 05.49 p.m.12- Fahad Shabib A. Albalawi, born in 1985, arrived in Istanbul on a private jet belonging to Sky Prime Aviation and stayed at the Movenpick Hotel. He boarded his flight at 05.46 p.m.13- Badr Lafi M. Alotaibi, born in 1973, arrived in Istanbul on Oct. 2 on a private jet belonging to Sky Prime Aviation and passed through passport control at 03.41 a.m. He stayed at the Movenpick Hotel and departed at 05.44 p.m.14 Mustafa Muhammad M. Almadani, born in 1961, arrived in Istanbul on a private jet belonging to Sky Prime Aviation and passed through passport control at 03.41 a.m. He stayed at the Movenpick Hotel during his visit and left at 00.18 a.m.15- Saif Saad Q Alqahtani, born in 1973, arrived at Atatürk Airport on a private plane belonging to Sky Prime Aviation and passed through passport control at 03.41 a.m. He also stayed at the Movenpick Hotel and went through passport control for his return flight at 00.20 a.m.According to reports, most of them stayed at the Wyndham Grand Hotel and Movenpick Hotel, which is close to the consulate.Trump says will talk to Saudis about missing journalistSaudi journalist's disappearance bears marks of Saudi, Egypt, UAECameras show no footage of Khashoggi leaving Saudi consulate, say Turkish security forces
Fifteen Saudis in journalist Khashoggi’s case identified
The fiancée of missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi has publicly stated that there is no proof he left the Saudi consulate in Istanbul he entered on Oct. 2."This much is true: He entered the consulate, and there’s no proof that he came out," wrote Cengiz in The Washington Post, the paper Khashoggi wrote for before he went missing.Cengiz pleaded for help from the U.S. president and first lady to clear up the circumstances of his disappearance."At this time, I implore President Trump and first lady Melania Trump to help shed light on Jamal’s disappearance. I also urge Saudi Arabia, especially King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to show the same level of sensitivity and release CCTV footage from the consulate," she added.Trump yet to speak to Saudis about missing journalistTelling how she and Khashoggi were planning a wedding and that he went to the consulate specifically to arrange for this, Cengiz said she did not suspect any harm could be done to him at a diplomatic mission as this would be "a violation of international law to harm, arrest or detain people."After waiting for him for three hours outside the consulate building, and hearing nothing, Cengiz stressed she "was overcome with fear and concern.""I texted a few friends to inform them, and I asked about Jamal at the consular building. I received an answer that further fueled my fears: Jamal had already left, they told me, possibly without my noticing," she wrote.Saudi journalist's disappearance bears marks of Saudi, Egypt, UAEShe praised the efforts of Turkish authorities, saying: "I’ve witnessed the work of the Turkish authorities as they monitor the situation closely. I am confident in the abilities of Turkish government officials."According to Turkish police, while Khashoggi was inside, 15 Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and entered the consulate.Istanbul prosecutors are investigating the incident, while the consulate said on Twitter that it was working in coordination with Turkish authorities.Turkey on Monday conveyed its expectation of "full cooperation" from Saudi Arabia in the search for the missing journalist.Saudi Arabia on Tuesday invited Turkish experts and relevant officials to visit the consulate, according to diplomatic sources.Cameras show no footage of Khashoggi leaving Saudi consulate, say Turkish security forcesBritain asks Saudis to explain what happened to missing journalist
No proof Khashoggi left Saudi consulate, says fiancée
U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday he has yet to speak to Saudi officials about the case of a Saudi journalist who went missing in Turkey last week.Trump said he would raise the case "at some point" with Riyadh, but did not specify when the talks would take place.Saudi Arabia on Tuesday invited Turkish experts and officials to visit its Istanbul Consulate to look into last week’s disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi.According to diplomatic sources, a diplomatic note was sent to the Turkish Foreign Ministry inviting Turkish officials to visit the consulate, where Khashoggi was last seen entering a week ago.Saudi journalist's disappearance bears marks of Saudi, Egypt, UAEKhashoggi, a columnist for the Washington Post newspaper, has been missing since he entered the consulate Oct. 2.Turkish police investigating the case said Saturday that 15 Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and entered the consulate while Khashoggi was inside.The consulate said it was working in coordination with Turkish authorities.Cameras show no footage of Khashoggi leaving Saudi consulate, say Turkish security forcesTurkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has called for Saudi officials to prove their contention that Khashoggi left the consulate as most accounts say he was last seen entering the building.The State Department later Tuesday called on the Saudi government "to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation.”“The United States is certainly concerned about his whereabouts, senior officials at the State Department have spoken to Saudi officials through diplomatic channels about the matter,” State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert told reporters. Britain asks Saudis to explain what happened to missing journalistSaudi Arabia invites Turkey to visit its Istanbul consulate
Trump yet to speak to Saudis about missing journalist