WSJ: CIA Director Haspel Will Now Brief on Khashoggi Murder

CIA Director Gina Haspel on Tuesday will brief lawmakers on writer Jamal Khashoggi's murder, per a report in The Wall Street Journal.

The move comes after U.S. senators demanded the White House be more forthcoming about intelligence gathered on Khashoggi's killing in Turkey, and whether the crown prince of Saudi Arabia issued the kill order. Khashoggi, a former Washington Post columnist and Saudi dissident, went missing Oct. 2 following what was supposed to be a routine stop at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

The CIA, per The New York Times and The Washington Post, has evidence Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the assassination, but President Donald Trump has disputed that conclusion while continuing to tout the importance of maintaining economic ties with the kingdom.

The Saudis have also refuted the claims.

Haspel's planned briefing follows criticism the White House did not allow the CIA director to join an earlier meeting on Saudi policy conducted by Defense Secretary James Mattis and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

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