Saudis don't know where Khashoggi's body is: Foreign Affairs official
What's the story
Riyadh doesn't know the location of dissident Jamal Khashoggi's body, despite having detained the Saudi team that murdered him, a high-ranking foreign affairs official in the kingdom said in an interview with CBS that was broadcasted yesterday. The dissident journalist was dismembered after he was murdered on October 2 in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul but his remains are yet to be found.
Comment
Accused Saudi officials 'acted outside their scope of authority': Jubeir
Adel al-Jubeir, Saudi minister of state for foreign affairs, said the murder was carried out by Saudi officials "acting outside their scope of authority" and that 11 people have been charged with the crime. But asked where Khashoggi's body is, he said, "We don't know." Jubeir said the public prosecutor responsible for the case had sought evidence from Turkey but had received no response.
Investigation
'We're asking them what they did with the body'
When questioned why those in custody couldn't tell them where the body was, Jubeir responded, "We are still investigating." "We have now a number of possibilities and we're asking them what they did with the body, and I think this investigation is ongoing, and I would expect that eventually, we will find the truth," the foreign affairs official told CBS's Face the Nation.
Information
Trump ignored congressional deadline on Khashoggi's murder report
Jubeir was interviewed by CBS on Friday, the same day President Donald Trump ignored a congressional deadline for reporting on who assassinated Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post, who had been openly critical of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Suspect
Would go after Khashoggi 'with a bullet': Prince to aide
The CIA has concluded the Saudi operation was likely directed by the crown prince, but the White House has sidestepped that finding amid strenuous denials by Riyadh, a key US-ally. Media reported Friday that CIA had intercepted communications of the crown prince telling a top aide in 2017 that he would go after Khashoggi "with a bullet" if the journalist didn't return to Saudi.
Information
Crown prince, we know, did not order this: Jubeir
Jubeir told the US TV program that the murder was a massive tragedy but he's "not going to comment on reports based on anonymous sources." He added, "The crown prince, we know, did not order this. This was not a government-sanctioned operation."