Saudis confirm Jamal Khashoggi's death; top military official dismissed, 18 Saudis detained in probe

The Saudi government today says its initial investigation shows that journalist Jamal Khashoggi [photo above] “has died.”

A probe involving some 18 suspects continues, and the Saudi King dismissed the kingdom's deputy intelligence chief, al-Assiri.

The Saudi prosecutor who delivered the government's findings today gave this explanation for Jamal Khashoggi's death: a heated discussion happened in the Saudi Consul in Istanbul between Jamal Khashoggi and people at the embassy who saw him. This encounter turned into a fist fight, which resulted in Khashoggi's death.

This is, of course, a lie.

Also today, King Salman dismissed MBS’s closest aide, who oversees the Saudi kingdom’s propaganda overseas, Saud al-Qahtani.

[Reuters] recap.

FILE PHOTO: Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud stands during a reception ceremony in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, April 5, 2017. Bandar Algaloud/Courtesy of Saudi Royal Court/

Tweets from the time the news broke, below.

https://twitter.com/chrislhayes/status/1053409458808872961