Pompeo, Saudi king meet to discuss journalist’s disappearance

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday met Saudi King Salman at his palace in Riyadh to discuss the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul two weeks ago.

“I hope you are comfortable here,” the king told Pompeo, Reuters reported, citing reporters.

{mosads}“Thank you for accepting my visit on behalf of President Trump,” Pompeo responded, according to the news service.

State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert tweeted shortly after 8 a.m. that Pompeo thanked the king “for his commitment to supporting a thorough, transparent & timely investigation” of Khashoggi’s disappearance.

Pompeo also met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and voiced concern about Khashoggi’s disappearance, Nauert said in a statement. The two men agreed on the importance of an investigation, and discussed other regional and bilateral issues.

The crown prince, 33, has come under scrutiny in the wake of Khashoggi’s disappearance. While King Salman remains the country’s leader, the crown prince holds significant power and oversees parts of the government.

Nauert added in a separate statement that Pompeo thanked Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir during a meeting for his “continued partnership,” adding that the secretary of State and his Saudi counterpart “followed up on a range or regional and bilateral issues discussed at the UN General Assembly.”

Khashoggi was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2, but was not seen leaving.

Turkish officials have said they have evidence to prove that he was murdered there on orders from Saudi leaders, and U.S. lawmakers have in recent days indicated it’s increasingly likely Khashoggi was killed.

Saudi Arabia has denied involvement in Khashoggi’s disappearance, saying he left the consulate.

President Trump has expressed concern about Khashoggi’s whereabouts, but on Monday repeatedly pointed to King Salman’s denials and suggested without evidence that “rogue killers” may be involved.

Khashoggi, a U.S. resident, is a columnist for The Washington Post and a vocal critic of Saudi leadership. His disappearance sparked an outcry among senators, who warned that Saudi Arabia would face consequences if the country was responsible for Khashoggi’s disappearance.

Updated at 9:57 a.m.