The son of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi has left Saudi Arabia and arrived in the United States,according to CNN.
Salah bin Jamal Khashoggi, a dual US-Saudi citizen, had previously been unable to leave Saudi Arabia after his passport was restricted by the kingdom some months ago.
A State Department spokesman said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged the Saudis to release the younger Khashoggi and deputy spokesman Robert Palladino said the US was "pleased" that he was allowed to leave the country.
Salah Khashoggi is the eldest son of The Washington Post columnist whom Saudis officials now admit was killed in a pre-meditated murder carried out by a squad of men, some of whom had close ties to the country's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Initially, Saudi Arabia denied all knowledge of Khashoggi's disappearance inside its consulate in Istanbul.
Saudi officials later announced it had identified 18 men involved in the operation, leading the State Department to announce it was freezing visas for 21 Saudi nationals. On Thursday, Palladino said the additional three people targeted by the US belonged to Saudi Arabia's intelligence services, royal court and a government ministry.
Officials have told CNN it is highly unlikely that the operation against the Saudi dissident and critic could have taken place without the awareness of the crown prince, who controls the country's security apparatus.
On Tuesday, the Crown Prince and his father King Salman were pictured shaking hands with the stone-faced younger Khashoggi, in an orchestrated photo-opportunity at a royal palace in Riyadh.
CIA director Gina Haspel, who traveled to Turkey Tuesday to consult with officials there, briefed President Donald Trump Thursday on the Turkish investigation into Khashoggi's death.
According to The Washington Post, Haspel heard audio in Turkey's possession that is purportedly of Khashoggi's October 2 killing. Palladino confirmed that Pompeo attended Haspel's briefing at the White House, but would not confirm whether he heard the audio or saw the video that Turkish officials claim to possess.
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