The Saudi foreign minister claims a CIA report directly linking the crown prince to Jamal's Khashoggi's murder is an unsubstantiated fib
- Saudi foreign minister Adel Jubeir said on Tuesday that the allegations - including by the CIA - linking the crown prince to the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi are false.
- This weekend, several news outlets reported that the CIA has determined that Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered Khashoggi's assassination.
- A former CIA officer also claimed the Trump administration is helping the crown prince cover up the October 2 murder, which is still being investigated.
- This was the first comment from a Saudi official on the alleged CIA report, seen as the most definitive US assessment tying the crown prince to the murder.
Saudi foreign minister Adel Jubeir said on Tuesday that the allegations - including by the CIA - linking the crown prince to the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi are false.
This weekend, several news outlets reported that the CIA has determined that Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered Khashoggi's assassination. The CIA's conclusion was based on several pieces of intelligence, including a call from Saudi ambassador Khalid bin Salman, Mohammed's brother, to Khashoggi and audio recordings of the killing that have been circulating around global intelligence agencies.
A former CIA officer and intelligence analyst also claimed the Trump administration is helping the crown prince cover up the October 2 murder.
"We in the kingdom know that such allegations about the crown prince have no basis in truth and we categorically reject them," al-Jubeir was quoted as saying in Saudi-owned Al Sharq Al Awsat newspaper.
"They are leaks that have not been officially announced, and I have noticed that they are based on an assessment, not conclusive evidence," he said.
This was the first comment from a Saudi official on the alleged CIA report, seen as the most definitive US assessment connecting the crown prince to the murder.
Saudi Arabia has repeatedly denied that the crown prince had a role in Khashoggi's death, though its version of the events surrounding Khashoggi's murder have shifted several times over the last several weeks.
On Monday, Saudi King Salman heaped praise on his son, the crown prince, but made no mention of Khashoggi's death. Sources also told Reuters that some members of the country's ruling family are working to prevent prince Mohammed from becoming king, fueling speculation of his involvement.
Sarah Gray contributed to this report.