MEDIA/SAUDI ARABIA/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “Jamal Khashoggi’s murder at the hands of a Saudi Arabian government team means President Donald Trump now faces a question: what to do about it. On Friday [10-19-18], Saudi Arabia admitted the Washington Post columnist was dead and announced the arrest of 18 individuals including high ranking officials close to the kingdom’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. It was a widely expected step as the kingdom moves to insulate its heir apparent. A state television news bulletin said a Saudi commission led by the crown prince will spend one month investigating. The bulletin claimed that he was killed in a ‘fist fight’ with the men, who the Saudis claim had gone to Turkey to convince Khashoggi to return to Saudi Arabia…Prior to the Saudi announcement Trump indicated he was ready to act, telling reporters Friday he wanted Congress to be involved in a US response. He also hinted that the US is conducting a probe into the Washington Post journalist’s October 2 disappearance inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.”
–Nicole Gaouette, “Saudis admit Khashoggi is dead. What are Trump’s options?,” CNN Politics, CNN.com, October 19, 2018 8:36 pm