CIA Director Gina Haspel briefed key senators on the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and it appears that briefing left little doubt about who was responsible for it.
"I went into the briefing believing it was virtually impossible for an operation like this to be carried out without the crown prince's knowledge. I left the briefing with high confidence that my initial assessment of the situation is correct," Sen. Lindsey Graham said.
"I have zero question in my mind that the crown prince, MBS, ordered the killing, monitored the killing, knew exactly what was happening, planned it in advance. If he was in front of a jury he would be convicted in 30 minutes, guilty," Sen. Bob Corker said.
The briefing came after senators on both sides of the aisle complained that Haspel wasn't there for a closed-door meeting held by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis last week. Pompeo and Mattis briefed the Senate on the situations in Saudi Arabia and Yemen and the death of Khashoggi.
The Washington Post columnist died in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October.
President Donald Trump has been standing behind the U.S.' ally, disputing reported conclusions that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was involved.
"I don't know if anyone's going to be able to conclude that the crown prince did it. But I will say this: I don't know. I don't know. But whether he did or whether he didn't, he denies it vehemently," Trump said.
Additional reporting from Newsy affiliate CNN.
