Some now believe Khashoggi was forcibly and secretly removed from the embassy in an official vehicle. That same day, fifteen Saudi officials traveled to the embassy and departed later in the evening, not staying overnight -- did they have Khashoggi with them? A number of strange things did happen that day at the consulate -- non-Saudi staff was ordered to stay away for the day and security system video footage has mysteriously disappeared.
Other reports have surfaced that Khashoggi was outright murdered by the Saudis whilst he was inside, possibly during a botched attempt to convince him to return to Saudi Arabia.
The Saudis have been engaging with the media over the last year or so in an attempt to soften their international image as the severely authoritarian, theocratic state lacking in basic freedoms. This effort has been lead by their charming and handsome young crown prince.
But that's just a smoke screen to hide the fact that the Saudi royal family is cracking down harder on dissent than ever before (details here). Concurrent to this, they've engaged in romancing Donald Trump, who made his first official state visit to the kingdom and was photographed dancing with and praising the Saudi royals.
So don't expect Trump to say or do anything about this. After all, Khashoggi was originally banned by Saudi Arabia from working in the kingdom because he criticized none other than Trump himself (details here).
This is why Trump's constant praise of dictators and autocrats is so dangerous. Because they fluff his ego, often with clumsy obsequience, they can do no wrong in his book. So when their citizens are in danger, as has apparently happened with Khashoggi, Trump will do and say nothing.
His ego is more important than your freedom or your life.
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