Saudis Finally Admit Journalist Jamal Khashoggi's Murder claims he died in fistfight at Istanbul
Saudi Arabia has admitted the death of missing Saudi journalist and Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, claiming he died in a fistfight involving more than a dozen Saudi officials at the country's consulate in Istanbul, CNN reported.
After 18 days in which it insisted it had no involvement in the journalist's disappearance, Riyadh asserted that Khashoggi died as a result of the altercation after he had come to the consulate to obtain paperwork needed for his forthcoming wedding.
An announcement carried on Saudi state TV said discussions between Khashoggi and officials at the consulate quickly turned violent, and ended in his death. Those responsible then tried to cover it up, a Saudi statement said.
A source with close connections to the Saudi royal palace told CNN that, in the Saudis' determination, Khashoggi's cause of death was a chokehold or strangulation, but officials provided no evidence to support the conclusion. Turkish officials privately say Khashoggi was dismembered, but his remains have not yet been found.
Trump says he believes Saudi explanation for Khashoggi's death, but some lawmakers are skeptical
Saudi Arabian authorities announced a purge of officials, the detention of 18 people and an overhaul of the intelligence services headed by the country's de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman -- whom US officials privately believe must have been aware of the operation to target Khashoggi.
The question is whether Riyadh's final explanation for Khashoggi's demise is enough for the international community to move on from the grisly episode.
US President Donald Trump indicated he believed it was credible, but emphasized that the US had not yet completed its review of the Saudi investigation.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was "deeply troubled" by the explanation, his spokesman said.
Some members of the US Congress, who have the power to force the administration's hand on foreign policy, were derisive. "To say that I am skeptical of the new Saudi narrative about Mr. Khashoggi is an understatement," South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Republican, said on Twitter.
The Saudi statement was the first official confirmation that Khashoggi died at the country's consulate in Istanbul nearly three weeks ago, and the first acknowledgment by Saudi Arabia of its role in it.
Scroll down for video
Culled from CNN
My view: The men arrested are scapegoats and for the Saudi Crown Prince to say he doesn't know anything about the horrific incident inside his consulate, it's just lies, it also shows how incompetent he is, he should step down because the Army General that was dismmissed was his right hand man and he said he will never do anything major without authorization from cute face MBS. As for Trump, he'll believe anything, even what a frozen fish says, because of money. Recall how Trump conned innocent people through his sham Trump University, you can imagine that a president that conned people through his fake Uni, he can also be lied to into believing the Saudis fantasy version of Jamal Kashoggi's death. Also to add insult to injury the Saudis announced that the Crown Prince would lead the sham investigation, really, who do they think they fooling? Trump I guess, but not the world.