[Wolf Blitzer, Cnn Anchor:] Thanks very much for watching. Our breaking news coverage continues right now with "Erin Burnett OutFront."
[Kate Bolduan, Cnn Anchor:] "OutFront" next, breaking news, the Saudis making a major announcement tonight, admitting after weeks of denials that "The Washington Post" contributor is dead. What would President Trump do now? And Trump doubling down on his praise for Republican who body slammed a reporter. His allies say he was just joking. Was he? Plus, a caravan of thousands of migrants have made their way to Mexico tonight. The President says they're headed to the United States next. Is it just feared mongering? Let's go "OutFront." Good evening, everyone. I'm Kate Bolduan in for Erin Burnett. "OutFront" tonight, we do have breaking news and a major admission tonight from Saudi Arabia. After 17 days, state T.V. finally confirming what the world already expected, "Washington Post" contributor Jamal Khashoggi is dead. The government, the Saudi government, also revealing that 18 Saudi nationals have been arrested in connection with this. And this man, we'll show you, Major General Ahmed al-Asiri, the deputy of the intelligence services, has been dismissed, relieved of his duties. He's a close adviser to Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. This all comes after Saudi Arabia, for weeks, denied any involvement in his mysterious disappearance. But we now know, according to Saudi Arabia, that he was killed after what they claim was a fight inside their consulate in Istanbul. But so many questions remain. What role did the crown prince play in this? Is any of this any of the details coming out true or just a cover story tonight? Let's get to some answers. Clarissa Ward is "OutFront" live in Ankara, Turkey for us. Clarissa, what more are you hearing from the Saudi government tonight?
[Clarissa Ward, Cnn International Correspondent:] Well, I think the most significant thing that we probably heard tonight, Kate, in this news bulletin is that not just General al-Asiri, but another man, Saud al-Qahtani, has been dismissed. He has been relieved of his duties. This is as high as it gets. Other than the crown prince, he is one of the top three most senior closest advisers to the crown prince. He is the man who has sort of spearheaded on Twitter, a sort of ugly propaganda campaign against people who speak out against the kingdom, and he is a very senior, important man in Saudi Arabia. He has been dismissed of his duties. Obviously, the Saudis are hoping that on some level, this will deflect or shield the crown prince. But I do want to point out to you that our Tim Lister actually found a tweet that was written by Saud al- Qahtani a year ago in which he said, "Do you think I think without orders? I am an employee. I carry out orders from my king and my crown prince." So, if the Saudis are hoping tonight that they have created some distance, that they have created a plausible story whereby some rogue elements or Saud al-Qahtani ordered this operation without the crown prince knowing about it, Saud al-Qahtani's own words would appear to contradict that. One other thing, Kate, that we're hearing that's interesting, the wording of exactly what happened to Jamal Khashoggi when he went in to the Saudi consulate, according to the statement today, they said that he was interrogated, that there was some kind of physical altercation. I'm being told by sources very close to the royal court that they're preparing to issue a kind of correction or a clarification, rather, to say that it was some kind of a chokehold, that there was some kind of an interrogation and then he was strangled and that apparently is how he was killed, though it's anyone's guess as to whether this will be enough to satisfy the international community, the American people, and of course the Turkish authorities here where the dreadful murder took place, Kate.
[Bolduan:] Absolutely. All right, so much more to learn tonight. Thank you so much, Clarissa. I really appreciate it. I want to go now, though, to the White House. Pamela Brown is there. Pamela, the President promised severe punishment if it turned out that Jamal Khashoggi was killed by the hands by the Saudis. What does the President what does the President do now?
[Pamela Brown, Cnn Justice Correspondent:] That's a big question, and we know that the White House is monitoring the situation. We haven't heard an official response, but the President said earlier today that within the next couple of days, perhaps by Monday, that we would have more answers to who, what, when and where in terms of what exactly happened and whether there would be severe consequences. The question is, how does that square with what we're hearing from the Saudis now, that they've developed this commission and that it could take a month to investigate and to release a report on this. Also, the question is, how will the President respond to the action taken by the Saudis, of course the dismissal of the high ranking intelligence official who was a close adviser to the crown prince. The President's own intelligence officials believe that it's highly unlikely for an operation like this to have taken place without the knowledge of the crown prince. And so that is still an open question, did he know? Was he involved, as the intelligence officials believe? And it's hard to believe that President hasn't been briefed on that. But what is also clear, Kate, is that the President is walking this fine line here because he wants to preserve the relationship with Saudi Arabia. He said it today. He said, "They're a great ally of ours." It's clear that the arms deal is very important to the President, the partnership with Iran, with Syria, very important as well. And so this could be a big test for the President in how he responds.
[Bolduan:] Absolutely. All right, Pam, thank you so much. I really appreciate it. "OutFront" with me now is Democratic Congressman Jerry Connolly of Virginia. He sits on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Congressman, thank you for coming in. Jamal Khashoggi was
[Rep. Jerry Connolly , Virginia:] Good to be with you, Kate.
[Bolduan:] was your constituent. He lived in Virginia. Your reaction tonight, first and foremost, to the Saudis finally confirming that he is dead.
[Connolly:] Well, it's amazing that it took two weeks of lying and subterfuge for the Saudi government to finally admit, "Well, yes, he died. And he died at their hands and in our consulate." Now, they're engaged in a cover-up to protect the crown prince. And we'll see how that works for them, but I call this another nice try, because there is no way this kind of premeditated operation could conceivably have happened in the Saudi consulate without the knowledge of and approval of the crown prince.
[Bolduan:] Well, and then what do you make of the fact that they're reporting, coming from my colleagues overseas tonight, is that they're putting together basically a group to issue a report in a month and the person heading up this investigative group is the crown prince himself,
[Mbs. Connolly:] Right. I think that's the sure fire sign that a cover-up is under way. And you know, the Turkish government and Turkish intelligence community has been very helpful in leaking details of what, in fact, they know, all of which have pretty much been confirmed so far. And they're the ones, don't forget6, who said not only was there a dispute, he was tortured before he was killed. And after he was killed, he was then dismembered, so this wasn't some rogue operation where it got out of hand. This was premeditated. 15 individuals flew into Turkey with, you know, malice aforethought. They knew what they were doing and there's no way, given who they were, and given how they came into Turkey, there's no way they would have done this without the clear knowledge of and approval of the crown prince. And indeed, there are intercepts, apparently, that the intelligence communities have that the crown prince was actively engaged in plotting at least the abduction of Mr. Khashoggi.
[Bolduan:] Congressman, you do not believe what's coming out of the Saudis tonight, absolutely not.
[Connolly:] No.
[Bolduan:] Do you believe, then, you call it a cover-up. Do you believe that the general that they've relieved, General al-Asiri, do you really see do you think if this is tell you he's just the fall guy?
[Connolly:] I think that's exactly what's going on. It's almost like a classic mafia operation. It's tragic to watch and tragic to comprehend the consequences. But as your earlier reporter just said, you know, I think that gentleman was quoted saying, "I take my orders from the king and the crown prince. I don't use independent judgment before I act." And I think that's exactly how the Saudi system works. It's a very it's both consensual in terms of the royal family, but hierarchical in terms of this crown prince and how the system works.
[Bolduan:] So, Congressman, I think maybe now very quickly the most important question is what does President Trump do? What do you want to hear from him now?
[Connolly:] Wouldn't it be nice if we had a President who actually held murderers to account? Instead with the U.S. president
[Bolduan:] Well, he has said that there will be severe punishment, severe consequences if it is shown that the Saudis murder he was killed at the hands of the Saudis. So now, what?
[Connolly:] You know, Kate yes. Kate, I think that's a throw away line for President Trump. He's also said we can't jeopardize $110 billion in arms sales. This is important relationship. We need their oil. They were going to prevent Secretary Mnuchin from going to Davos in the Desert, Saudi conference on the future of Saudi Arabia
[Bolduan:] Yes.
[Connolly:] because of our distaste for what has happened and now we're learning he's going.
[Bolduan:] What does Congress Congress can act.
[Connolly:] Yes.
[Bolduan:] Will Congress act?
[Connolly:] Yes, I believe we will. I think there is sufficient bipartisan horror and revulsion at what has taken place and clarity about who did it. And that I think Congress is going to take punitive measures, that the range of, you know, on that menu is everything from arms sales to sanctions, to financial cutoffs in terms of international banking as a starters. But the Saudis have to be held to account. And we're not going to settle for cover.
[Bolduan:] First things first, I think everyone is interested to hear now what President Trump has to say after this report coming out.
[Connolly:] That's right.
[Bolduan:] Congressman, thank you for coming in. I appreciate your time.
[Connolly:] Thank you, Kate.
[Bolduan:] "OutFront" next, the President says that he doesn't regret raising praising, rather, the Republican congressman for body slamming a journalist. This, as his defenders say that he was just joking. Who is laughing? Tonight. Plus, Paul Manafort in court in a wheelchair as we learn the Mueller team is still not done with him. Plus, dramatic pictures from Mexico as thousands of migrants make their way north. Could this caravan drive Republicans to the polls?