A Saudi court handed down death sentences today to five people linked to the 2018 slaying of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, while others will serve long jail sentences or be acquitted. The CIA had previously assessed that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman ordered the killing at a consular facility in Istanbul.
Why it matters: The Donald Trump administration, which has tied itself closely to Riyadh, has said repeatedly that Saudi Arabia would lead the probe into Khashoggi’s death, prompting criticism from US lawmakers who thought the White House wasn’t doing enough to hold the Gulf partner accountable.
