Washington, November 20 (RHC)-- The CIA has concluded that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey on October 2nd and was never seen again. 

CIA director Gina Haspel reportedly listened to the audio tape of Khashoggi’s murder while in Istanbul last month but President Donald Trump has said he doesn’t want to listen to the recording, in his words: “Because it’s a suffering tape.” 

President Trump responded to the CIA’s findings, calling them “very premature” -- while conceding that it was possible that Crown Prince bin Salman was responsible for Khashoggi’s death.  Trump has repeatedly echoed Saudi claims that the Crown Prince had no knowledge of Khashoggi’s murder. 

The State Department said in a statement the U.S. government has not yet reached a conclusion about the killing.  Secretary of State Mike Pompeo -- a  strong Trump ally --  is the former head of the CIA.  

This came as a top White House official involved in U.S. policy toward Saudi Arabia resigned in the wake of the scandal.  Kirsten Fontenrose had pushed for tough sanctions against the Saudis in response to Khashoggi’s murder. Jamal Khashoggi was a Washington Post Columnist.