WASHINGTON, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- The White House said here on Friday that the United States acknowledges the announcement by Saudi Arabia on the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, despite suspicion of the U.S. Congress toward the Kingdom's explanation.
The Saudi Public Prosecution announced on Friday that preliminary investigations showed that the missing journalist Khashoggi died after a fight at the Saudi consulate.
The Saudi journalist who lived in the United States, disappeared on Oct. 2 after visiting the consulate to complete paperwork related to his divorce. Unconfirmed reports said before that Khashoggi was likely killed inside the compound, which was denied by Saudi officials as "baseless."
ONGOING INVESTIGATION
Ever since the journalist disappeared, Saudi officials had repeatedly said he left the consulate alive and the Saudi side had no information on Khashoggi's whereabouts.
A sharp reversal came soon as the Saudi Press Agency reported that preliminary investigations by the Public Prosecution revealed Khashoggi had a physical fight with those he met at the Saudi consulate, which led to his death in the compound.
Eighteen people were arrested over the death of the missing journalist, and the investigation over the case will continue, the public prosecution said, adding that all involved in the case will be held accountable.
Such a result gained the acknowledgement of U.S. President Donald Trump who told the media in an event in Arizona that the explanation was credible and a "good first step."
In a statement, White House spokesperson Sarah Sanders said that "the United States acknowledges the announcement from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that its investigation into the fate of Jamal Khashoggi is progressing and that it has taken action against the suspects it has identified thus far."
"We will continue to closely follow the international investigations into this tragic incident and advocate for justice that is timely, transparent, and in accordance with all due process," she said.
OTHER FACTORS
Before Saudi Arabia made the announcement, Trump told the media that the case was a "very serious stuff and we're going to get to the bottom of it and will make that determination."
While promising to work with the Congress "in determining what to do," Trump emphasized that "we have 450 billion U.S. dollars worth of things ordered from a very rich country, Saudi Arabia. 600,000 jobs, maybe more than that."
"So there are other things we can do, but I would certainly, make that recommendation to Congress," he said, indicating that he would prefer not to hurt the U.S. companies and jobs by cutting billions of dollars in arm sales to the kingdom.
"I will very much listen to what Congress has to say ... I do hope that they'll be able to see the way clear to take," the president said, adding that "we're talking about almost every state in the union is affected because it's the largest order ever given."
"I went to Saudi Arabia first and a large part of the reason was they agreed to do this, spend 450 billion dollars on buying and investing in the United States. So, I hope we can keep that, I hope we don't lose track of that," Trump said.
RISING SUSPICIONS
Suspicions on Saudi Arabia's explanation over the case have been rising since the release of the kingdom's announcement. Several Republican heavyweights in the United States have urged Trump to reconsider U.S. military sales to Saudi Arabia over the case.
U.S. Republican senator Lindsey Graham, also Trump's close ally, noted via twitter that "to say that I am skeptical of the new Saudi narrative about Mr. Khashoggi is an understatement."
A high-ranking Democratic lawmaker, Adam Schiff, also expressed his suspicion on Saudi Arabia's claim, adding that if the Trump administration fails to hold Saudi Arabia accountable, the Congress will.
Trump said on Thursday that the United States will make a "very strong" statement about Khashoggi's case.
Meanwhile, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said after meeting with Trump and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that he has decided to cancel his coming trip to the kingdom for a major trade conference.
Trump and Pompeo had denied earlier that Pompeo, during his stay in Turkey, had been given or shown a transcript or video of Khashoggi's alleged death in the Saudi Arabian consulate.
