Senators: Khashoggi intelligence points to Saudi Arabia

Dec. 4 (UPI) -- Senators briefed by CIA Director Gina Haspel on Tuesday said intelligence about the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey indicates Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is to blame.

The closed-door meeting came one week after Republican and Democratic senators expressed outrage that they didn't receive an intelligence briefing on The Washington Post journalist's slaying on Oct. 2.

Though President Donald Trump gave the Saudi government the benefit of the doubt, the briefed lawmakers appeared more convinced of suggestions the crown prince ordered the killing.

"There's not a smoking gun, there's a smoking saw," Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., told reporters.

"You have to be willfully blind not to come to the conclusion that this was orchestrated and organized by people under the command of MBS and that he was intricately involved in the demise of Mr. Khashoggi," he added, using a nickname for Prince Mohammed.

Graham said that though Saudi Arabia is a "strategic ally," the relationship with Riyadh should not be saved "at all costs."

"I cannot see him being a reliable partner to the United States," he said of the crown prince, calling him "dangerous."

Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, agreed.

"I have zero question in my mind that the crown prince directed the murder and was kept apprised of the situation all the way through, I have zero question in my mind," he said.

Corker said the Trump administration should strongly condemn Saudi Arabia for the slaying.

Senators received an earlier briefing on Khashoggi's death with Defense Secretary James Mattis and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Pompeo, speaking to reporters after the briefing, said "there is no direct reporting connecting the crown prince to the order of the murder of Jamal Khashoggi."

President Trump said in a statement that "our intelligence agencies continue to assess all information, but it could very well be that the Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic event -- maybe he did and maybe he didn't!"

But the CIA said Prince Mohammed likely ordered Khashoggi's death after listening to intercepted communications from Mohammed.