Khashoggi Kill Team Member Told Crown Prince Aide That ‘Deed Was Done’: Report
SMOKING GUN
In a phone call, a member of the kill team reportedly told Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s aide to tell the “boss” the killing happened.
Chris McGrath/Getty
A member of the team that allegedly killed Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi last month called an aide of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and said, “tell your boss” the “the deed was done,” The New York Times reports. Maher Abdulaziz Mutreb, one of the 15 Saudis reportedly dispatched to the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul, reportedly made the call in Arabic shortly after Khashoggi was killed. While the crown prince’s name was not mentioned, American intelligence officials reportedly believe “your boss” was a reference to him. The Times also reports Turkish intelligence believe Mutreb called “one of the prince’s aides.” Saudi officials denied the crown prince “had any knowledge whatsoever” of Khashoggi’s killing in a statement Monday. Officials also told the newspaper they did not hear the “boss” phrase mentioned in any of the Turkish intelligence recordings they were permitted access to. CIA Director Gina Haspel reportedly heard the recording referencing the crown prince during her trip to Turkey. A CIA spokesperson declined to comment to the newspaper. After initially claiming ignorance surrounding what happened to Khashoggi after he disappeared, the Saudis admitted Khashoggi was killed inside the consulate in early October, prompting an international outcry.
