WATCH: Pompeo Repeatedly Dodges Question About CIA Director’s Absence From Saudi Briefing

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo repeatedly dodged questions posed by reporters as to why the Director of the CIA, Gina Haspel, was not present to brief Senators regarding the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.

“I was asked to be here, so I am,” Pompeo said twice.

Earlier this week, The Guardian reported that the White House would prevent Haspel from briefing the Senate on Khashoggi’s murder, despite the fact that she traveled to Istanbul in the weeks following the slaying and reportedly listened to audio of the killing, which was provided by Turkish intelligence agencies.

Sen. Dick Durbin told reporters on Wednesday that it was confirmed in the briefing that the White House instructed Haspel not to attend.

The CIA has since concluded with a high level of confidence that the killing of Khashoggi was ordered by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

President Donald Trump has been wary of accepting any conclusion regarding the matter, saying “maybe [bin Salman] did and maybe he didn’t,” and has emphasized the importance of the U.S.-Saudi relationship.

Pompeo echoed the views of the commander-in-chief when asked about the role of the upper echelons of the Saudi government and Khashoggi’s murder, saying “There is no direct reporting connecting the Crown Prince to the order to murder Jamal Khashoggi.”

Watch above via Fox News.

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