Senators Demand Answers On What US Intel Agencies Knew About Khashoggi Plot

WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 31st October, 2018) A group of US senators in a letter asked Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats to brief the lawmakers on reports regarding prior knowledge of threats against murdered Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.

"The Intelligence Community must clearly account for any known threats levied against Mr. Khashoggi and whether the Directive was triggered appropriately and followed accordingly," the letter stated.

The Washington Post reported earlier this month that US spy agencies had information about Khashoggi's life being in danger but failed to warn the journalist before he was murdered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in early October.

The group of senators led by Richard Blumenthal also asked Coats to provide background data regarding the number of instances of threat assessments.

Last week, more than 50 members of the US House of Representatives urged Coats to lift the lid on intercepts of Saudi officials hashing out plans to kidnap Khashoggi.

Last week, the Saudi prosecutor general acknowledged that the journalist's murder had been orchestrated in advance. However, Riyadh maintains that the murder had nothing to do with the Saudi Royal family, describing it as a rogue operation.

US President Donald Trump called for a thorough investigation into what he considered the worst "coverup" in history. However, Trump said he would not halt arm sales to Saudi Arabia over the Khashoggi incident.