Vice President Michael Pence said “the free world deserves answers” about Jamal Khashoggi, the Washington Post columnist who disappeared in the Saudi Consulate in Turkey.
“It’s a great concern for the United States of America,” Mr. Pence said in an interview with Hugh Hewit that aired Wednesday, “And as I said yesterday, the free world deserves answers.”
The vice president stressed that violent acts targeting journalists should be denounced, but noted that “we don’t know what happened.” He reiterated the White House’s call for answers in the case.
Turkey launched an investigation into Mr. Khashoggi’s disappearance and said Tuesday it would search the consulate’s premises.
On Wednesday, Turkish media outlets published photos and a video of an alleged Saudi “assassination squad,” The Associated Press reported.
Mr. Pence said the U.S. stands by to assist in the investigation in any capacity.
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“The reports that a Saudi Arabian journalist may have been tragically murdered in Turkey should be deeply concerning to everyone who cherishes a freedom of the press and human rights across the globe,” he said.
• Gabriella Muñoz can be reached at gmunoz@washingtontimes.com.
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