Turkey accuses Trump of turning ‘blind eye’ to Khashoggi slaying

Turkey’s top ranking diplomat scorched President Trump on Friday, accusing him of turning a “blind eye” to the killing of Washington Post journalist and Saudi national Jamal Khashoggi.

In an interview on Turkish television first reported by CBS News, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu also took aim at “artificial” responses to the killing from leaders of European nations.

Khashoggi was last seen in October entering a Saudi Consulate in Riyadh to obtain a marriage document. The CIA reportedly has come to the conclusion that his slaying was ordered by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

{mosads}”Trump’s statements amount to him saying ‘I’ll turn a blind eye no matter what,’ ” Çavuşoğlu, Turkey’s foreign minister, said in an interview.

“Money isn’t everything. We must not move away from human values,” Çavuşoğlu added.

His statements came after Trump signaled this week that Crown Prince Mohammed and the Saudi government would not face further consequences from his administration over Khashoggi’s death, with the president citing America’s longstanding business relationship with the country as a reason why.

“I hate the crime and I hate what is done and I hate the cover-up. And I will tell you this: The crown prince hates it more than I do,” Trump told reporters on Thanksgiving.

“As I said, ‘Maybe he did, maybe he didn’t.’ But I will say very strongly that it’s a very important ally. And if we go by a certain standard we won’t be able to have allies with almost any country,” he added, claiming that the CIA assessment “points it both ways” on who is responsible for Khashoggi’s murder.

“It’s a mean & nasty world out there, the Middle East in particular. This is a long and historic commitment, & one that is absolutely vital to America’s national security.” @SecPompeo I agree 100%. In addition, many Billions of Dollars of purchases made in U.S., big Jobs & Oil!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 22, 2018

Washington Post publisher Fred Ryan condemned the president’s comments, calling them cover for “tyrants” around the globe.

“A clear and dangerous message has been sent to tyrants around the world: Flash enough money in front of the president of the United States, and you can literally get away with murder,” Ryan wrote.

“President Trump whitewashed the Saudi government’s brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi,” he continued.