Mike Pompeo said on Tuesday that Saudi leaders strongly denied any knowledge of what took place in their Istanbul consulate (AFP)
Senior White House officials, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and US President Donald Trump, heaped praise on Saudi Arabia and cast doubt about the country's involvement in the disappearance and likely death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Pompeo said on Tuesday that Saudi leaders strongly denied any knowledge of what took place in their Istanbul consulate during a visit by Khashoggi and promised a serious and credible investigation.
"During each of today's meetings, the Saudi leadership strongly denied any knowledge of what took place in their consulate in Istanbul," Pompeo said in a statement from Saudi Arabia.
"My assessment from these meetings is that there is serious commitment to determine all the facts and ensure accountability, including accountability for Saudi Arabias senior leaders or senior officials."
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Similarly, Trump tweeted that he spoke to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who "totally denied any knowledge of what took place" in Istanbul.
The US president dismissed claims of Saudi Arabia's involvement and compared the situation to the sexual allegations of now-US Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
“Here we go again with youre guilty until proven innocent,” he told the Associated Press.
In two tweets, the US president wrote that MBS took the call in the presence of Pompeo, who was dispatched to Saudi Arabia this week amid a growing diplomatic nightmare over Khashoggi's disappearance.
Trump said Bin Salman told him "that he has already started, and will rapidly expand, a full and complete investigation into this matter".
"Answers will be forthcoming shortly," Trump tweeted.
…during the call, and told me that he has already started, and will rapidly expand, a full and complete investigation into this matter. Answers will be forthcoming shortly.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 16, 2018
Pompeo met with Saudi King Salman and Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir on Tuesday in Saudi Arabia, and he "reiterated US concern" over Khashoggi's disappearance, US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said in a statement.
"The secretary and the foreign minister agreed on the importance of a thorough, transparent, and timely investigation," Nauert said.
Pompeo is expected to be in Turkey on Wednesday to probe the incident further. He will meet with the Turkish foreign minister to "discuss the Jamal Khashoggi case and reiterate the US offer to assist Turkey in its investigation", Nauert said in a subsequent statement.
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