SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
A protester dressed as Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman and another dressed as U.S. President Donald Trump stand outside the White House in the wake of the disappearance of the Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi on Oct. 19. (Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)
The 'Smoking Gun'? Turkish Media Reports CIA Has Recording of Crown Prince Giving Order to 'Silence Jamal Khashoggi as Soon as Possible'
Citing sources, Turkish columnist claims an international investigation into the murder, if opened, "can reveal more jaw-dropping evidence, as CIA has more wiretapped phone calls at hand than the public knows about."
Nov 21, 2018
The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency declined requests to comment on the report as it continues to guard just how much and what exactly it knows about the murder and who ordered it, the Hurriyet Daily News in Turkey on Thursday reports that the CIA has possession of the "smoking gun phone call" in which Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was recorded, according to sources, giving the order "to silence Jamal Khashoggi as soon as possible."
The claim originates with Hurriyet columnist Abdulkadir Selvi, who cites two unidentified sources familiar with the phone intercepts in possession of the CIA:
According to Selvi, CIA Director Gina Haspel "signalled" during her trip to Ankara last month the existence of the wiretapped phone call between Crown Prince Mohammed and his brother Khaled bin Salman, who is Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the United States.
Citing unidentified sources, the Turkish columnist wrote that the two Saudi officials are heard in the CIA recording discussing the "discomfort" created by Khashoggi's public criticism of the kingdom's administration.
"It is said that the crown prince gave an instruction to silence Jamal Khashoggi as soon as possible and this instruction was captured during the CIA wiretapping. The subsequent murder is the ultimate confirmation of this instruction," Selvi wrote. Additionally, he stressed that an international investigation into the murder, if opened, "can reveal more jaw-dropping evidence, as CIA has more wiretapped phone calls at hand than the public knows about."
While reporting has stated that the CIA's internal determination is that the crown prince was directly involved, President Donald Trump this week dismissed those findings and said that even if bin Salman was behind the murder, "it is what it is."
\u201cNote the recipient of the Saudi crown prince's instruction about Khashoggi--the prince's brother Khalid bin Salman, Saudi ambassador to the US--reportedly told Khashoggi it'd be safe for him to visit the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, where he was murdered. https://t.co/sx7m5XRcz2\u201d— Kenneth Roth (@Kenneth Roth) 1542888424
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency declined requests to comment on the report as it continues to guard just how much and what exactly it knows about the murder and who ordered it, the Hurriyet Daily News in Turkey on Thursday reports that the CIA has possession of the "smoking gun phone call" in which Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was recorded, according to sources, giving the order "to silence Jamal Khashoggi as soon as possible."
The claim originates with Hurriyet columnist Abdulkadir Selvi, who cites two unidentified sources familiar with the phone intercepts in possession of the CIA:
According to Selvi, CIA Director Gina Haspel "signalled" during her trip to Ankara last month the existence of the wiretapped phone call between Crown Prince Mohammed and his brother Khaled bin Salman, who is Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the United States.
Citing unidentified sources, the Turkish columnist wrote that the two Saudi officials are heard in the CIA recording discussing the "discomfort" created by Khashoggi's public criticism of the kingdom's administration.
"It is said that the crown prince gave an instruction to silence Jamal Khashoggi as soon as possible and this instruction was captured during the CIA wiretapping. The subsequent murder is the ultimate confirmation of this instruction," Selvi wrote. Additionally, he stressed that an international investigation into the murder, if opened, "can reveal more jaw-dropping evidence, as CIA has more wiretapped phone calls at hand than the public knows about."
While reporting has stated that the CIA's internal determination is that the crown prince was directly involved, President Donald Trump this week dismissed those findings and said that even if bin Salman was behind the murder, "it is what it is."
\u201cNote the recipient of the Saudi crown prince's instruction about Khashoggi--the prince's brother Khalid bin Salman, Saudi ambassador to the US--reportedly told Khashoggi it'd be safe for him to visit the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, where he was murdered. https://t.co/sx7m5XRcz2\u201d— Kenneth Roth (@Kenneth Roth) 1542888424
The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency declined requests to comment on the report as it continues to guard just how much and what exactly it knows about the murder and who ordered it, the Hurriyet Daily News in Turkey on Thursday reports that the CIA has possession of the "smoking gun phone call" in which Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was recorded, according to sources, giving the order "to silence Jamal Khashoggi as soon as possible."
The claim originates with Hurriyet columnist Abdulkadir Selvi, who cites two unidentified sources familiar with the phone intercepts in possession of the CIA:
According to Selvi, CIA Director Gina Haspel "signalled" during her trip to Ankara last month the existence of the wiretapped phone call between Crown Prince Mohammed and his brother Khaled bin Salman, who is Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the United States.
Citing unidentified sources, the Turkish columnist wrote that the two Saudi officials are heard in the CIA recording discussing the "discomfort" created by Khashoggi's public criticism of the kingdom's administration.
"It is said that the crown prince gave an instruction to silence Jamal Khashoggi as soon as possible and this instruction was captured during the CIA wiretapping. The subsequent murder is the ultimate confirmation of this instruction," Selvi wrote. Additionally, he stressed that an international investigation into the murder, if opened, "can reveal more jaw-dropping evidence, as CIA has more wiretapped phone calls at hand than the public knows about."
While reporting has stated that the CIA's internal determination is that the crown prince was directly involved, President Donald Trump this week dismissed those findings and said that even if bin Salman was behind the murder, "it is what it is."
\u201cNote the recipient of the Saudi crown prince's instruction about Khashoggi--the prince's brother Khalid bin Salman, Saudi ambassador to the US--reportedly told Khashoggi it'd be safe for him to visit the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, where he was murdered. https://t.co/sx7m5XRcz2\u201d— Kenneth Roth (@Kenneth Roth) 1542888424
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.