U.S. bars 16 Saudis for roles in Jamal Khashoggi killing

Reporting from Washington —  The State Department on Monday publicly designated 16 Saudis for their roles in the killing of writer Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, in October.

Such designation makes those individuals and immediate family members ineligible for entry into the United States.

Khashoggi wrote critically of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in columns for the Washington Post before he was killed. After denying any knowledge of Khashoggi’s death for weeks, Saudi authorities eventually settled on the explanation that he was killed in an operation masterminded by former advisors to Mohammed. The kingdom denies the crown prince had any involvement.

The list released Monday includes Saud Qahtani, a former aide to the crown prince, and Maher Mutreb, who was part of the crown prince’s entourage on trips abroad.

The names had already been announced publicly, but Monday’s designation tells them their family members are now also at risk of being subject to a travel ban.