Former Trump Staffer Addresses the Murder of WaPo Journalist by Attacking the Journalist

This is disgusting, but it’s not unexpected from those who count themselves among the Trump faithful.

The narrative from some circles now, as it concerns murdered Washington Post contributor, Jamal Khashoggi, is that maybe the ambush of an American resident and subsequent violent, unspeakable death isn’t such a big deal.

To recap: Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi-born journalist and outspoken critic of the Saudi royal family, disappeared on October 2, after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, in order to retrieve paperwork about his divorce, in order to remarry his Turkish fiancée.

He never exited that consulate, and the Saudi government has admitted that he was killed, although their explanation is hugely ridiculous and unbelievable.

According to Saudi officials, 18 officers close to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman were sent to question Khashoggi, but he was killed in a fist fight.

Ok, so where is his body?

The more believable – albeit grotesque – explanation came from the Turkish government, who say Khashoggi’s “interrogation” was recorded.

According to Turkish officials, as Khashoggi entered the consulate, he was attacked by 15 Saudi officials who had arrived in Istanbul on separate flights, hours before Khashoggi’s appointment (and left, hours later).

He was dismembered while still alive. In a barbaric ritual, he was murdered, as part of the crown prince’s crackdown on dissent.

If that were not the case, why would the crown prince send the doctor in charge of autopsies for the Saudi kingdom to “question” a man who no longer lives in Saudi Arabia?

What happened to Jamal Khashoggi was inhuman and absolutely demonic.

How could the situation be made worse?

Well, a U.S. president unwilling to call it what it is, for fear of losing a lucrative arms deal adds to the nightmare scenario.

It doesn’t end there.

The new angle is to trash Khashoggi’s character and background. You know, maybe if Khashoggi is as bad as those who murdered him, people will simply call it a case of the trash taking out the trash – not our problem – and forget about it.

I don’t know who started this vile conspiracy, but they should be ashamed of themselves.

Who am I kidding? These people have no shame.

Sebastian Gorka, a former Trump White House staffer and second rate Bond villain, looked to tamp down any sympathies for Khashoggi in an interview that aired early Sunday.

Khashoggi “was not just some innocent journalist. He was a columnist, and opinion rider, who was a member of the Muslim Brotherhood. He joined in the 1970s. Went to school with bin Laden. Was close to the bin Laden family,” Gorka said on John Catsimatidis’ radio show in an interview that aired Sunday.

“He was an Islamist. He believed in the theocratization of countries in the Middle East.… He didn’t deserve to die, but the idea that he was some champion of liberty was not factual,” he added.

How about he was a human being trying to live his life, you Drakkar Noir-soaked abomination?

Those familiar with Khashoggi’s life have pushed back against this attempt to tie him to the Muslim Brotherhood by pointing out that, indeed, as a younger man, he was involved in Islamist movements. As he matured, however, his views changed. He became more liberal and secular in his beliefs.

As for Bin Laden, he interviewed him in the 80s, when everybody was looking to cover the conflict in Afghanistan, between rebels and Russian forces. That doesn’t make them friends, and those who know Khashoggi insist they were not.

Fred Hiatt, the editor of the Washington Post’s editorial section, spoke up in Khashoggi’s defense.

“As anyone knows who knew Jamal — or read his columns — he was dedicated to the values of free speech and open debate. He went into exile to promote those values, and now he may even have lost his life for his dogged determination in their defense,” Hiatt said in a statement.

“It may not be surprising that some Saudi-inspired trolls are now trying to distract us from the crime by smearing Jamal. It may not even be surprising to see a few Americans joining in. But in both cases it is reprehensible,” he added.

He’s right. It’s reprehensible, and steeped in political convenience.

Gorka wasn’t done being an oozing pustule on the face of society.

“The media really doesn’t care about this person…This is about battering the president. This is the narrative they are using to go against the president and his use of the term fake news,” Gorka said.

And the truth comes out.

It doesn’t matter that a U.S. resident was brutally killed. It matters how this makes Trump look.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement Friday that the White House would advocate for justice that is “timely, transparent and in accordance with all due process.”

Let’s hope so, but I wouldn’t count on it. As long as the Trump devotees make it about him and protecting him, over seeing justice for Jamal Khashoggi, I wouldn’t expect to see any substantive reprisals.