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President Trump has claimed responsibility for the death of Jamal Khashoggi and the credibility of intelligence reports that implied Saudi Arabia, a stark departure from his defense of the kingdom.
Mr. Trump's shift is a fast-moving relationship between Turkey and Saudi Arabia, and the United States at the center of the international dispute over Saudi Arabia's apparent impunity.
Mr. Khashoggi – dissident Saudi writer and Virginia resident – vanished in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, a steady stream of information has emerged from the Saudis to the kingdom's crown prince.
Even for those who have watched the developments closely, it has been difficult to keep up. Here are some of the most important recent updates:
The evidence – so far – of Saudi Arabia's involvement.
The bulk of evidence has come from a steady stream of leaks from Turkish authorities to pro-government news outlets. That information included the identification of 15 Saudis who Turkish officials said that they had formed a hit squad to kill and dispose of Mr. Khashoggi's body.
Details in an audio recording from inside the consulate show that they were waiting for Mr. Khashoggi walked into the building, and that he was dead within minutes, a senior Turkish official said. The audio revealed that Mr. Khashoggi has been dismembered, and his fingers have been broken.
The New York Times confirmed that at least nine of the 15 suspects identified by Turkish authorities worked for the Saudi security services, military or other government ministries.
One of those men, Maher Abdulaziz Mutreb, has traveled extensively with Prince Mohammed, including in recent trips to the United States, perhaps as a bodyguard. On Thursday, the Turkish pro-government news outlet Sabah released photos showing Mr. Mutreb entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul before Mr. Khashoggi arrived on Oct. 2.
Another of the suspects, Dr. Salah al-Tubaigy, is an autopsy expert, lending credence to reports that the writer's murder was planned.
American intelligence agencies have become more convinced that Prince Mohammed is guilty.
Saudi Arabia's narrative has evolved.
When Mr. Khashoggi disappeared, the Saudi government said that it had no information on the writer's whereabouts. Officials, including Prince Mohammed himself, said that Mr. Khashoggi had left the consulate freely, and that they had no knowledge of what happened to him.
As information continued to flow from Turkish officials, Saudi Arabia, forcefully denied its involvement. Then, have the evidence piled up.
There have been indications that this has been the result of an interrogation gone wrong, a theory of trump echoed to reporters, saying "rogue killers" could be behind the disappearance.
Now, Saudi authorities are considering assigning blame to a top Saudi intelligence official, who also has close ties to Crown Prince Mohammed, in an effort to deflect blame from the Crown Prince himself.
Maj. Gen. Ahmed al-Assiri, a high-ranking adviser to the Crown Prince, has been singled out to a potential scapegoat. The Saudis have not checked the details of their investigation into Mr. Khashoggi's disappearance, but the Trump administration said it would be expected within.
The trump administration's response has shifted.
Early on, the Trump administration stood by its Saudi allies, even as Republican lawmakers asked for an independent inquiry into the incident and called for sanctions. Mr. Trump asserted that relations with the kingdom were "excellent," and that he did not have plans to introduce sanctions.
On Monday, Mr. Trump said that he had discussed the box with King Salman bin AbdulazizMr. Khashoggi, who was "immediately sending" Mr. Pompeo to meet the king and the crown prince and visit with investigators in Turkey.
After Mr. Trump was briefed by Mr. Pompeo on his return from Istanbul, on Thursday, saying he believed Mr. Khashoggi was dead. He expressed confidence in several intelligence reports that suggested to Saudi role in his murder.
The same day, Mr. Mnuchin announced his withdrawal from the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh next week after facing a backlash over a decision to wait in the midst of the unresolved scandal.
Mr. Pompeo, who briefed reporters outside the White House on Thursday, said that the United States would give the Saudis a few more days to conduct their investigation, and that the report would be "transparent for everyone". to acquire. "
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