Posted on 10/19/2018 11:02:01 AM PDT by yesthatjallen
President Trump on Friday denied a report that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo heard an audio recording of journalist Jamal Khashoggi's murder inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
"Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was never given or shown a Transcript or Video of the Saudi Consulate event. FAKE NEWS!" Trump tweeted.
The president's comments come one day after ABC News reported Pompeo listened to the recording and was given a transcript of it during meetings this week in Turkey scheduled in response to Khashoggi's disappearance.
Trump administration officials have repeatedly denied the report, which was based on the account of one senior Turkish official, and the president's tweet could amplify those denials.
"Secretary Pompeo has neither heard a tape nor has he seen a transcript related to Jamal Khashoggis disappearance," said in a statement Thursday evening.
Pompeo himself pointedly dismissed the report, telling journalists traveling with him in Mexico that "Ive seen no tape ... Ive heard no tape. Ive seen no transcript."
"The network that reported that ought to pull down the headline that says I have," he added.
Khashoggi's disappearance has sparked a diplomatic crisis between the U.S., Turkey and Saudi Arabia.
Turkish officials have said Khashoggi was intercepted inside the consulate in Istanbul by a team of Saudi agents, then tortured, killed and dismembered.
Saudi officials have thus far denied any knowledge of Khashoggi's fate, but Trump and his top aides have recently ramped up pressure on the kingdom to come up with an explanation.
Obama had Khadaffi assassinated and no one said boo.
“ABC news-fake news?”
Naw, just out and out lies. So please don’t call them a news agency that supplies fake news, call them liars. Straight to the point. And a whole lot more realistic.
rwood
BBC tries everyday to connect this to TRUMP ,LOL
Since when has the Turkish leader become the gentle seeker of justice? There may be an audio of a murder, but it would be one of the many occurring in Turkey.
I doubt that Khashoggi is dead. Way too much fake news and political pressure so close to an election.
Besides, he worked for the Compost, so who gives a damn.
So pull their credentials from the WH press corps.
“I doubt that Khashoggi is dead”.
I’m leaning your way.
He is/was a hard core Trump hating Islamist. Erdogan is working to de-westernize Turkey.
A faked death would to a good way to put a wedge between their two enemies.
If he is dead, was it the prince (who I don’t think is stupid enough to jeopardize his relationship with the US) or his enemies?
Tinker, Tailor, Journalist, Spy: Jamal Khashoggi And The Story Not Being Told
Via NC Scout at American Partisan.
The Middle East is a cesspit.
And very few Westerners understand it, or the reasons for its seemingly irrational importance in world affairs.
Amazing, eh, that the know-nothing Partisan Media Shills regurg' the DNC talking points -- gosh, they're so worried about our alleged alliance with Russia's and Iran's ally, Turkey, and claim that the pro-jihadist former columnist of the Washington ComPost did nothing wrong, and that his death should launch some moral crusade (oops, I said crusade) to drop Saudi Arabia. What are their FR nicks?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.