The Office of Director of National Intelligence on Friday released an intelligence report to US Congress, finding the Saudi crown prince “approved” Jamal Khashoggi’s killing in 2018, AFP reported.

“We assess that Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman approved an operation in Istanbul, Turkey to capture or kill Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi,” according to the document.

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“We base this assessment on the Crown Prince’s control of decision-making in the Kingdom, the direct involvement of a key adviser and members of Muhammad bin Salman’s protective detail in the operation, and the Crown Prince’s support for using violent measures to silence dissidents abroad, including Khashoggi,” the report said, ABC News reported.

Khashoggi was a Saudi journalist and a Washington Post columnist, who used his columns to criticize the crown prince’s policies.

The 59-year-old was reportedly lured to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2, 2018, and killed by a team of operatives linked to the crown prince, the kingdom’s de facto ruler.

They then dismembered his body. His remains have never been found.

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Although Riyadh eventually admitted that Khashoggi was killed in a “rogue” extradition operation gone wrong, it denied any involvement by the crown prince.

Five men given the death penalty for the murder had their sentences commuted to 20 years in jail after being forgiven by Khashoggi’s family.

The prince said in 2019 he took “full responsibility” for the killing since it happened on his watch, however, denied ordering it. 

The release of the report represents the shift in US policy towards Riyadh under President Joe Biden compared to his predecessor Donald Trump, who had a cosy relationship with the crown prince and shielded the kingdom for any US pressure.