White House Adviser Kushner Says US Still In 'Fact-Finding Phase' In Khashoggi Case

The United States is still collecting facts in the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, senior White House adviser Jared Kushner said in an interview on Monday.

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd October, 2018) The United States is still collecting facts in the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, senior White House adviser Jared Kushner said in an interview on Monday.

"Right now, as an administration we're more in the fact-finding phase," Kushner told CNN.

When asked about the integrity of Saudi Arabia's investigation into the killing when many believe that Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman himself ordered murder, Kushner said the White House was not relying only on the Saudis in the probe, but rather getting information from multiple sources.

Kushner added that as all the evidence comes in, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will partner with US national security officials to help determine which information credible. Kushner insisted that the Trump administration has its eyes wide open and will focus on what is good for US interests.

Kushner, who has come under scrutiny for his close ties with Crown Prince Mohammad, said he has asked the Saudi royal to "just to be transparent" because "the world is watching."

The senior White House adviser, who is also President Donald Trump's son-in-law, echoed the administration's approach to the US-Saudi relationship by calling Riyadh a key partner in the fight against terrorism and malign activities of Iran.

Last week, Saudi Arabia said that Khashoggi was killed at the consulate in a fist fight and pledged to investigate the case and punish those responsible for the murder. But US lawmakers note that many questions about the columnist's murder remain unanswered, and therefore, the United States should take serious action in response to the killing.