US Senators convinced 'crazy' Saudi prince 'culpable' for Khashoggi murder

Republican senators who received a briefing from the CIA director say it's clear the Saudi crown prince was culpable in the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Source: AAP

Leading US senators say they are more certain than ever that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was culpable in the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi after receiving a CIA briefing on the matter.

"The views that I had before have only solidified," said Senator Bob Menendez, the top Democrat on the Senate foreign relations committee, who has called for a strong US reaction to Khashoggi's death and backs legislation to end all US support for the Saudi coalition waging war in Yemen.

Candles, lit by activists, protesting the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, are placed outside Saudi Arabia's consulate, in Istanbul. Source: AAP

Menendez spoke to reporters on Tuesday as he left a closed-door briefing for some Senate committee leaders and Senate leaders by CIA Director Gina Haspel.

Senator Bob Corker, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, shook his head no, when asked if he thought Haspel's briefing had changed any minds.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham described the Saudi crwon prince as "crazy" and "dangerous" after the briefing. 

"You have to be willfully blind not to come to the conclusion that this was orchestrated and organised by people under the command of MbS," the South Carolina Republican told reporters, referring to the crown prince by his initials.

Khashoggi, a US resident who wrote for the Washington Post, was killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October.