Oct 22, 2018

Body doubles and burning files: Latest Khashoggi case leaks

Jamal Khashoggi. Photo: Mohammed Al-Shaikh/AFP via Getty Images

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said he will release the findings from Turkey's investigation into the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi's on Tuesday, pledging to go into "full detail" during a meeting of his ruling AK Party.

The big picture: There has been a steady drip of leaks from anonymous Turkish officials ever since news of Khashoggi's disappearance first broke, but the government has yet to release concrete evidence of a premeditated murder plot by the Saudi government. There has been speculation that rather than make such an accusation, Erdogan has been seeking more leverage from Riyadh and Washington. But he says he'll put all his cards on the table tomorrow.

Driving the news:

  • The Saudi foreign minister claimed on Fox News on Sunday that Khashoggi's death was the result of "a rogue operation" gone wrong, and that it was carried out without the knowledge of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS).
  • CNN obtained video surveillance footage Monday that the network said showed a man wearing what appeared to be Khashoggi's clothes, a fake beard and glasses leaving through the back door of the Saudi consulate. A Turkish intelligence source told CNN the man was a member of the 15-person team involved in Khashoggi's alleged assassination, and was brought along as a body double.
  • Per Reuters, Saud al-Qahtani — a top aide to MBS who was fired for his involvement in the operation — gave orders during Khashoggi's killing via Skype. Two sources tell Reuters that the audio of the Skype call is now in Erdogan's possession.
  • Per Al Jazeera, Turkish police found an abandoned car registered to the Saudi consulate in an underground car park in Istanbul. Turkish state media published video footage allegedly showing an unidentified man transferring a package from the consulate vehicle into his own car.
  • A Turkish broadcaster has been airing footage that purportedly shows Saudi consulate staff burning files the day after Khashoggi's disappearance.

Go deeper

Alison Snyder, author of Science
28 mins ago - Science

How the brain handles the unknown

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Uncertainty can be hard for humans. It drives anxiety, an emotion neuroscientists are trying to understand and psychologists are trying to better treat.

Why it matters: Under the threat of a virus, job insecurity, election uncertainty, and a general pandemic life-in-limbo that is upending school, holidays and more, people are especially anxious.

Go deeper (2 min. read)Arrow
Axios
Updated 42 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Eniola Odetunde/Axios

  1. Global: Total confirmed cases as of 3 p.m. ET: 34,103,279 — Total deaths: 1,016,167 — Total recoveries: 23,694,869 — Map.
  2. U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 3 p.m. ET: 7,255,546 — Total deaths: 207,374 — Total recoveries: 2,840,688 — Total tests: 103,939,667 — Map.
  3. Politics: House prepares to pass revised COVID relief bill as White House talks hit roadblock.
  4. Health: Health officials urge flu shots, warning of "twindemic" with COVID-19 — Coronavirus infections rise in 25 states.
  5. Business: Remdesivir is good business for Gilead.
Go deeper (<1 min. read)Arrow
Alayna Treene, author of Sneak Peek
49 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Trump pushes back on changes to upcoming presidential debates

Photo: Jim Watson, Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

President Trump suggested Thursday that he'll resist any moves that could cut off candidates' microphones in the next debate if he continues to talk over his opponent and the moderator.

  • "Why would I allow the Debate Commission to change the rules for the second and third Debates when I easily won last time?" he tweeted.

The big picture: White House and campaign officials insist Trump is still committed to two remaining debates, despite fallout from Tuesday including poor reviews and discussions of new guardrails.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow