Our live coverage of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s case has ended. Scroll through the posts below to read about the case or visit CNN World.
Twenty-one Saudi citizens suspected to be involved in Jamal Khashoggi’s death “will have their visas revoked or be ineligible for a visa to enter the United States,” State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert announced Tuesday afternoon.
Another State Department spokesperson told CNN that the Department had the authority “to revoke visas based on information that comes to light at any time indicating that a visa holder may be inadmissible to the United States or otherwise ineligible for a visa,” adding that US law prohibited discussing individual visa cases.
Speaking at the State Department Tuesday afternoon about the death of Jamal Khashoggi, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the US has identified “at least some of the individuals responsible including those in the intelligence services, the royal court, the foreign ministry and other Saudi ministries.”
On top of revoking visas, Pompeo said the US is also “taking appropriate actions,” including potential sanctions. “These penalties will not be the last word on this matter from the United States,” he said.
President Trump has been reluctant to criticize Saudi Arabia, insisting several times in the past week that people should give Saudi Arabia the benefit of the doubt. Pompeo, too, stressed the US’ “strong partnership” and “shared strategic interests” with Saudi Arabia.
However, Pompeo took a harder line than previous White House statements.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the US will revoke visas and issue “visa lookouts” for those identified as responsible for the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.
Pompeo also said the Treasury Department is reviewing any applicability of sanctions for those responsible.
President Trump said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s speech on Jamal Khashoggi’s case was “certainly not complimentary about what happened.”
“I want to see the facts first. Saudi Arabia has been a great ally,” he said Tuesday in the Oval Office.
Trump also defended his decision to stand by Saudi Arabia because of the economic interests they have in the US. “They are doing hundreds of billions of dollars in investments … and thousands and thousands of jobs. “
He warned that the US would only be hurting itself if he decided to pull out of arms deals with the kingdom, and added that “I will tell you that Russia and China would love to have that military order.. Russia would pick that up very quickly.”
Trump added “that is no excuse” for Khashoggi’s death.
“But if what happened happened, and if the facts check out, then it’s something that’s very bad,” he said.
“Somebody really messed up and they had the worst cover-up ever,” Trump added.
Turkish and Saudi officials have found two suitcases and various other materials Tuesday in the abandoned Saudi consulate car at the Istanbul Sultangazi district parking lot, according to Turkey’s state news agency Anadolu.
CNN witnessed the Turkish police and forensic team’s arrival at the parking lot. A senior Turkish police officer at the scene told CNN that a senior Saudi diplomat and a representative from the Turkish foreign ministry were also present at this examination.
Why this matters: Istanbul’s Sultangazi District Chief Police Officer Mehmet Karaca confirmed to CNN Monday that the car they are examining is part of the Jamal Khashoggi case.
Forensic teams catalogued the contents from the vehicle, which was found Monday. They will take the relevant material found inside the car for further analysis, according to photos and reports in Turkish media.
CNN witnessed the abandoned Saudi consulate car being driven out from the parking lot.
A Turkish government official told CNN that Turkish law enforcement handed the diplomatic vehicle to the Saudis, and it was the Saudis who drove the car outside of the parking lot.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called the US-based children of Jamal Khashoggi on Tuesday to offer his condolences and update them on the investigation into the murder, a source confirmed to CNN.
Turkey’s state-run Anadolu reported earlier: “President Erdogan called Khashoggi’s family to offer his condolences.”
Another report stated the call was with Khashoggi’s son Abdullah and other family members. The report added, “President Erdogan said he was deeply sad about Khashoggi’s murder. He will do everything to uncover the murder.”
US Vice President Mike Pence said CIA Director Gina Haspel is on the ground in Turkey now “reviewing the evidence” in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.
“We are going to follow the facts,” Pence added. On her return, Haspel will brief President Trump.
Pence said the US “will get to the bottom” of this matter and it “will not go without an American response.”
Reporters from the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Financial Times and Reuters are here at the “Davos in the Desert.” But it’s still a small turnout compared to last year’s conference when there was a throng of international media broadcasting live.
This time round, in the wake of the Khashoggi scandal which has cast a long shadow over the conference, only Sky News Arabia and Al Arabiya have broadcasting stands.
It seems like the organizers are scrambling to find moderators for their panels, as international media partners pulled out. Some guests are moderating up to three panels.
On the conference app, the agenda keeps changing and speakers are added last minute.
The halls are a bit quieter than last year, but people we speak to say there is still a “good turnout.”
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman made a flying visit to his country’s big investment conference, widely known as “Davos in the desert,” arriving with the King of Jordan but leaving after just 15 minutes.
The Crown Prince, known widely by his initials MBS, listened to a session on Formula E motor racing, which is coming to Saudi Arabia.
Last year the Prince stayed much longer, speaking on a panel about Saudi Arabia’s project for megacity “Neom.”
Saudi royals have expressed their condolences to Khashoggi’s eldest son and another relative at the palace in Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.
The Saudi King, along with the Crown Prince and the Minister of Defense, received Sahl bin Ahmad Khashoggi and Salah bin Jamal Khashoggi at the Al Yamama Palace, the agency said.
CNN has reported that Salah Khashoggi was the Washington Post journalist’s eldest son. Sahl bin Ahmad has been identified by SPA as another relative of Jamal Khashoggi.
SPA reported that the King and the Crown Prince “expressed their sincere condolences to the family of Jamal Khashoggi – may God have mercy on him.”
The report added that Sahl and Salah Khashoggi expressed their sincere gratitude to the King and the Crown Prince for their condolences.
Saudi Arabia’s Council of Ministers said on state TV Tuesday that the Kingdom had “indicated” its “keenness to hold accountable those who failed in their duties” in the Khashoggi case.
The Khashoggi backlash hasn’t stopped Saudi Arabia doing business at “Davos in the desert.”
Oil company Saudi Aramco said it signed 15 Memoranda of Understanding worth more than $34 billion with companies from France, China, the United States, Japan, the UAE, the United Kingdom, South Korea and India.
They cover projects in oil drilling and refining, gas stations and chemicals. Among the companies involved are Total, Halliburton, Schlumberger, Baker Hughes, Hyundai Heavy Industries and Sumitomo.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s big investment conference – dubbed “Davos in the desert” – opened on Tuesday under the shadow of journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s death.
Dozens of top executives and government officials have stayed away from the conference, as questions mounted over the Saudi government’s role in the killing of Khashoggi.
But Chief Executive of Saudi Aramco, Amin Nasser, told CNN: “Everybody here feels sorry for the death of Jamal Khashoggi.”
“We feel sorry for his family and what happened, but at the end of day you know, we need to move beyond that… The kingdom recognized what happened, and is taking steps to make sure it will be addressed through the legal system that exists within the country in dealing with the people that committed this crime,” he added.
In his speech on Tuesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered the first on-the-record timeline of events surrounding the death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. While it was the first time that a member of the Turkish government has spoken publicly in detail about the case, Erdogan added only a few new details to those that have already emerged from private briefings by Turkish officials.
His speech was significant as much for what he didn’t say as for what he did.
Here’s what Erdogan said:
What he didn’t say:
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he wants the 18 Saudi suspects held in Saudi in connection with the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi to be tried in Istanbul.
Erdogan added that the Vienna Convention offering diplomatic immunity was a “matter of debate” in this particular case.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made no mention of an audio tape of Khashoggi’s suspected torture and killing, the contents of which have been reportedly leaked.
While the Turkish President listed many of the details already reported in the case, he made no reference to the tape and held back from pointing the finger directly at Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saudi consulate cameras were removed before Khashoggi’s arrival. “We have very strong leads that this was not accidental, but that it was planned,” he said.
Saudi Arabia only gave permission for Turkish security to search its consulate in Istanbul after media attention, he said.
Erdogan added that Saudi authorities gave Turkey a list of 18 suspects held in Saudi Arabia as part of the Kingdom’s probe into the killing of Khashoggi. The list included the 15 Saudi men identified by Turkish authorities, in addition to three more, he said.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan rejects Saudi Arabia’s explanation that the killing of Khashoggi was an accidental result of a discussion that went awry, saying it was a pre-planned and “ferocious” murder.
“Turkey is becoming the joint conscience of the international community,” he added.
“To try and hide such a ferocious murder is against the conscience of humanity,” Erdogan told the Turkish Parliament.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said a group of 15 people arrived separately in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul before Khashoggi entered at 1.08 p.m.
His fiancé alerted the police fearing something had happened to him. Turkish police immediately started an investigation and looked through CCTV footage.
