Kingdom, Trump blame ‘rogue’ forces in slaying of critic at consulate
WASHINGTON — President Trump raised the possibility Monday that “rogue killers” were behind the disappearance of a Saudi dissident journalist, and not the kingdom’s leaders — a theory echoed separately by a person familiar with Saudi plans to blame an intelligence services official and shield Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman from responsibility.
Trump said King Salman of Saudi Arabia denied any knowledge during a 20-minute phone call on Monday about what happened to the journalist, Jamal Khashoggi.
Turkish officials have said Khashoggi was killed and dismembered after he disappeared in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul two weeks ago.
“It sounded to me like maybe these could have been rogue killers — who knows,” Trump told reporters.