The Biden administration released a declassified version of the US intelligence report regarding the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.
The report confirmed that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sanctioned the kidnapping or killing of the opposition journalist. It noted that the Crown Prince viewed Khashoggi as a threat to the Kingdom and significantly supported violence. The declassified document listed 21 individuals, whom US intelligence believes were involved or responsible for Khashoggi's murder on behalf of the Crown Prince.
The report emphasized that the Crown Prince's control over intelligence and security agencies made it unlikely that the operation could have been carried out without his approval. It highlighted that the Biden administration identified 76 Saudis who could face sanctions under what it called the "Khashoggi policy." The report also indicated that the studies center was led by Saud al-Qahtani, who publicly stated in 2018 that he did not make decisions without the Crown Prince's consent.
The intelligence report concluded that the American assessment was based on the Crown Prince's control over decision-making, a direct involvement of a key advisor, and his support for violence to silence dissenters. The chairman of the US House Intelligence Committee confirmed that merely imposing sanctions would not be sufficient if the involvement of the Saudi Crown Prince in the crime was established.
The killing or assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi took place on October 2, 2018, at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. Khashoggi's death remained unofficial until the Saudi public prosecutor issued a statement on October 20, 2018, which confirmed the incident and revealed details surrounding his death. The incident led to the termination of several officers in the Saudi General Intelligence, including Ahmad Asiri, the deputy head of intelligence, as well as the dismissal of Saud al-Qahtani from his position as an advisor in the Saudi royal court, and the formation of a committee led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to restructure the General Intelligence Presidency.
