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Jamal Khashoggi

CIA director will brief senators on killing of Jamal Khashoggi

On Tuesday, CIA Director Gina Haspel will meet with the leaders of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senate Intelligence Committee and brief them on the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a person with knowledge of the matter told Politico Monday. The briefing was confirmed by Sen. Bob. Corker (R-Tenn.), who said it will take place at 11 a.m.

Last week, senators were briefed on the Khashoggi matter by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary James Mattis, and Democrats and Republicans alike were mad that Haspel wasn't there. In October, Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post, was killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul; it's been reported that the CIA has concluded his murder was ordered by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

After last week's briefing, the Senate voted to advance a bill that pulls U.S. support for Saudi forces fighting in Yemen. Corker said the Senate could start debating that measure as early as Thursday, but it likely won't happen until next week.