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Khashoggi murder: CIA chief Haspel to brief Congress Khashoggi murder: Saudi crown prince 'crazy', says US senator
(about 3 hours later)
The head of the CIA will now brief Congress on Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi's murder. US senators say they are confident the Saudi crown prince was linked to the murder of a Saudi journalist, following a private CIA briefing.
Director Gina Haspel is to talk to Senate leaders on Tuesday. Senator Lindsey Graham said he had "high confidence" Mohammed bin Salman knew in advance about the killing of Jamal Khashoggi.
The South Carolina Republican described the Saudi royal as "a wrecking ball" and "crazy" and "dangerous".
The Saudis have charged 11 people but deny the crown prince was involved.
CIA Director Gina Haspel spoke to Senate leaders earlier on Tuesday.
She was absent from last week's briefing by the secretaries of state and defence, angering some in Congress.She was absent from last week's briefing by the secretaries of state and defence, angering some in Congress.
Khashoggi was killed in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October. The CIA has concluded Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman "probably ordered" the killing.Khashoggi was killed in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October. The CIA has concluded Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman "probably ordered" the killing.
The Saudis have charged 11 people but deny that the crown prince was involved.
The CIA has evidence he exchanged messages with Saud al-Qahtani, who allegedly oversaw the murder.The CIA has evidence he exchanged messages with Saud al-Qahtani, who allegedly oversaw the murder.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defence Secretary James Mattis had told senators last week there was no direct evidence of the crown prince's involvement. But Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defence Secretary James Mattis told senators last week there was no direct evidence of the crown prince's involvement.
President Donald Trump has said the CIA findings on the crown prince were not conclusive. On 20 November he said: "It could very well be that the crown prince had knowledge of this tragic event - maybe he did and maybe he didn't."President Donald Trump has said the CIA findings on the crown prince were not conclusive. On 20 November he said: "It could very well be that the crown prince had knowledge of this tragic event - maybe he did and maybe he didn't."
Gina Haspel is also reportedly angry about the leak of the CIA findings to the media. What did senators say?
The CIA has not commented on Tuesday's briefing. Influential members of the Senate's Committee on Foreign Relations did not mince words after the CIA briefing on Tuesday.
How did senators react to last week's no-show? "You have to be wilfully blind not to come to the conclusion that this was orchestrated and organised by people under the command of MBS," Mr Graham said, using the crown prince's initials.
Many senators are unhappy with Mr Trump's response to the Khashoggi murder, and their anger was exacerbated by Ms Haspel's failure to attend the briefing. The senator said he could not support arms sales to Saudi Arabia as long as the Saudi crown prince remained in power, or the kingdom's war in Yemen.
As a result, they voted by 63 votes to 37 last week to advance a measure to withdraw American support for a Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen. "There is not a smoking gun - there is a smoking saw," the senator added, referring to Khashoggi's alleged dismemberment.
A similar resolution came up for a Senate vote earlier in the year and failed to pass. Another senator, Bob Corker, told reporters: "I have zero question on my mind that the crown prince MBS ordered the killing."
"It's time to send Saudi Arabia a message, both on its violation of human rights and the incredible humanitarian catastrophe it's creating in Yemen," Democratic Senator Bob Menendez said. The Tennessee Republican added: "If he [Mohammed bin Salman] was in front of a jury he would be convicted in 30 minutes. Guilty."
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said he would withhold his vote on any major legislation until Ms Haspel was allowed to brief the full Senate. Mr Corker suggested that President Donald Trump was condoning the murder of a journalist by refusing to condemn the Saudi crown prince.
"The way the administration had handled the Saudi Arabia event is just not acceptable," he said.
"The briefing did not help me at all better understand the role that [Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman] played in the killing of Mr Khashoggi."
Who was Jamal Khashoggi?Who was Jamal Khashoggi?
As a prominent journalist, he covered major stories including the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the rise of Osama Bin Laden for various Saudi news organisations.As a prominent journalist, he covered major stories including the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the rise of Osama Bin Laden for various Saudi news organisations.
For decades he was close to the Saudi royal family and also served as an adviser to the government.For decades he was close to the Saudi royal family and also served as an adviser to the government.
But he fell out of favour and went into self-imposed exile in the US last year. From there, he wrote a monthly column in the Washington Post in which he criticised the policies of Mohammed bin Salman.But he fell out of favour and went into self-imposed exile in the US last year. From there, he wrote a monthly column in the Washington Post in which he criticised the policies of Mohammed bin Salman.