Politics

Treasury Secretary Mnuchin Pulls Out Of Saudi Investment Conference

REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

Saagar Enjeti White House Correspondent
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Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced Thursday that he is withdrawing from a Saudi Arabian investment conference amidst an international uproar surrounding the disappearance of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.

Mnuchin made the decision after meeting with President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who just returned from making inquiries about Khashoggi’s fate. Turkish officials believe Khashoggi was killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul nearly two weeks ago when he entered the building to obtain paperwork that would allow him to get married.

(Photo: LEAH MILLIS/AFP/Getty Images)

These officials say Khashoggi was brutally interrogated and dismembered on the orders of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman (MBS). Khashoggi wrote critical columns of MBS in the Washington Post and was a U.S. permanent resident.

Portraits of Saudi King Salman bin Abdulazziz (R) and his son Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (L) are seen on October 18, 2018 in Riyadh. (Photo: FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images)

The Saudi government has waffled on whether it is responsible for Khashoggi’s death with Pompeo saying they are in the middle of an ongoing investigation. The Saudi’s are expected to take some culpability for Khashoggi’s death but will likely deny any high-level involvement of the crown prince or the King.