Following the violent death of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the US has initiated the first punitive measures against 21 Saudi Arabian suspects. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Tuesday in Washington that the US had identified suspects in the intelligence services, the royal court, the State Department and other Saudi Arabian ministries. "We take appropriate measures that involve the withdrawal of visas."
Pompeo, who traveled to Saudi Arabia and Turkey last weekend, added, "These penalties will not be the last word in the matter." Also conceivable are financial sanctions against individuals. For the US government, it is unacceptable for a journalist to be silenced by violence, Pompeo said.
At first, he made no statement as to who exactly those affected are. The State Department later said that 21 Saudi Arabian suspects in the Khashoggi case were either deprived of their visas or declared to be ineligible for a US visa (more on the 15 men who run the consulate briefly) before Khashoggi's death, read here).
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Riyadh and the Khashoggi caseThe end of the legend
The leadership in Riyadh had long denied the killing of Khashoggi three weeks ago in the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul. She recently stated that the journalist had been killed in a brawl at the consulate, the act had been a mistake. This presentation is skeptical worldwide.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke on Tuesday about a "barbarous planned murder" on the dissident critic. From Riyadh he demanded clarification about "who gave the order for the crime" and where the body of Khashoggi is.
Video: Erdogan comments on the Khashoggi case
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REUTERS / Presidential Press Office
US President Donald Trump commented on the Riyadh statement by saying, "They had a very bad original concept, it was badly executed, and the cover-up was one of the worst in the history of cover-ups."
Trump left open, however, who is responsible for the act. "I think whoever came up with this idea is in big trouble."
He would discuss possible sanctions with Congress, Trump said, with representatives of his Republican party as well as opposition Democrats. He hopes for non-partisan recommendations. A stop of arms supplies to Saudi Arabia excluded Trump but.
Video: A doppelganger for Khashoggi?
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CNN
Trump's deputy Mike Pence said they would ask for more answers from Riyadh. The US government maintains close economic ties with Saudi Arabia and has therefore been cautious in its assessment of the case so far. Finance Minister Steven Mnuchin had recently canceled an investor conference in Riyadh, but paid a visit to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Abdel al-Dzhubir had recently promised "comprehensive investigations". Riyadh is accused of delaying investigations in the Khashoggi case.