Rambling profanityladen remarks while a silent President Trump looked on. And lured to his death . A source tells cnn that u. S. Intelligence intercepted saudi officials discussing plans to lure a missing journalist Jamal Khashoggi back to saudi arabia and detain him. Did the saudis decide to kill him instead . Im wolf blitzer. Youre in the situation room. Were following breaking news. Six people now confirmed dead following one of the most powerful hurricanes to hit the u. S. Mainland in decades. The full scope of michaels devastation is still being revealed tonight even as the storm continues to bring lifethreatening continues to the carolinas. We have correspondents standing by in key locations and our analysts and specialists are also here as we cover all the days top stories. Lets begin with cnns brian todd. Brian, residents of floridas panhandle, they are reeling right now in the wake of this historic hurricane. They are reeling, wolf and they are trying to get a handle on it. A massive tree behind mow snapped off and brought down this power line in tallahassee. This is the kind of impediment that blocked us from getting around and blocked First Responders to get to one of the most isolate and devastated towns in the entire region. From the air, mexico beach is a wasteland. Homes and businesses around this Florida Gulf Coast city took the brunt of the storm, obliterated by winds as high as 155 miles per hour. This was a middle school gymnasium. This a mobile home park. Now an apartment complex. In some areas nothing is left by a concrete slab. As the storm came ashore, Brian Waddell hid in his bathroom. This is probably the scaredest ive ever been in my life. For a while i didnt know what was going to happen. I was trying to call people and we didnt have no cell phoner is vicious but the wind was really, really, really, really bad. Reporter Florida Governor rick scott says officials are assessing how long recovery will take with damage reports still coming in. The hurricane was an absolute monster and the damage left in its wake is still yet to be fully understood. Today the top focus is search and rescue. Reporter but those efforts are being hampered by impassable roads, something we discovered as we tried to make our way into mexico beach. Downed trees and power lines are making it nearly impossible for First Responders to reach certain areas. Everything is complete destruction. All the trees are down, power lines are down. Weve just been cleaning roads all morning long. Reporter those who rode out the storm away from home cant get back. Its not good. Its not looking good. Weve got reports that its bad, very bad. Reporter florida Officials Say thousands of rescue personnel are on the ground along with dozens of helicopters and boats to help pull people out. Meantime, there are nearly half a Million People without power across florida, alabama and georgia. Tens of thousands of utility crews are working on restoring electricity, but Officials Say it could take many days. Again, problems like this with massive trees down blocking interstates and major roads and arteries into these isolated areas. First responders still having trouble getting to those stranded and maybe those who still need rescuing. We also got word that Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center in panama city, florida, along the coast, has had to evacuate 130 patients because of their concerns over the infrastructure, sewage, power and other things impeding their work there. 130 patients, including some of the most critically ill this afternoon have had to be evacuated so even the hospitals taking it on the chin tonight. I understand even a major u. S. Air force base is not functional right now. Is that right . Reporter thats right, wolf. Got a word that Tyndall Air Force base near the hospital we were just talking about, thats still shut down. Usually air force bases are able to withstand this kind of thing, but apparently they suffered catastrophic damage at the air force base and dont know when its going to be functional again. Thanks very much. Brian todd reporting. Lets go to our correspondent gary tuchman in crawfordville. What are you seeing there . Reporter wolf, earlier in the day we went to a town 15 minutes away from here called shell point beach, a charming beautiful town, more than 50 miles away from where this eye crossed. Nevertheless this, shows you how large and powerful Hurricane Michael was. Many families in the town homeless as we speak, many of the homes destroyed. Most of the homes heavily damaged. Its such a unique community because you have mansions near the beach and mobile homes that sit next to each other. People came back today, and genuinely speaking they were surprised, and ill tell you why. We cover hurricanes. We go to the towns the next day. People come back, and they expect to see heavy damage, but because this was so far from the eye, a lot of people were hoping and perhaps as they look back at it now to Wishful Thinking that they would go back and their homes would be fine, and we were there when they came back and they were startled and shocked and stunned at the amount of devastation they saw. We spent the day yesterday before the hurricane arrived in this town. Thats why we went back to it, and we saw how nice of a town it was and how it was very close to the beach and if the eye came close to there we knew they would be in desperate straits but yesterday when we were doing the live report the water began to rush up the street and it started to get deep and we left thinking our cars might be underwater soon. When we went back last night there was five feet of water on the roads. People are so sad with the damage and also so grateful that it does not appear in that town there were any casualties whatsoever. Are people coming back now . Reporter people are coming back, but most of the people cant go back to their homes. They are just not livable right now. They are seeing what they have to deal, and they hope most of the people we talked to hope to rebuild and continue living the good lives by the gulf of mexico. Lets hope for the best. Gary tuchman, thanks very much. Joining us on the phone is linda albrecht, a member of the city council of the very hardhit mexico beach, florida. Thanks for joining us. So far we dont know of any confirmed fatalities in your community of mexico beach, but based on the devastation youre seeing, do you expect that to change . Well, i dont officially know. I just hear on the tv that there have been casualties. I dont officially know that. I do know that 200 people did stay and through the texting we see they found so and so, they are okay. They found so and so and ive not been texted that they have found any deceased friends or residents so thats unknown for sure, the official number. What do people of mexico beach need the most right now because were showing our viewers these awful, awful aerial shots of your community. It is absolutely devastating, and right now i i am anxious. Im scared. Im frightened. I cannot locate my home with all of the videos out there, and right on the highway, 98. It seems like all the videos stop at about 15th street so the is a blocks east to the end of the city there are no pictures, so whatever has happened there, i dont know. What the people need to in mexico beach need to know is dont rush home. Dont get in the way of the people who are trying to clear the roads, clearing hot wires so just getting functional so you can get in. The worse thing we need is more people there, and i do know that as of this afternoon they were not allowing any residents into mexico beach. So my fear is that this weekend people are going to say, oh, hey, great. Its a nice week and lets take a ride and see what we have left. But, please dont do that until you get official notice. Its hard to get there because the roads around mexico beach are totally, totally clogged with downed trees and power lines and debris. Have you been in touch with federal authorities . Yes. Our city administrator tammy castro spoke to the governor this morning, and he has been extremely helpful. I must admit that miss castro has been our interim administrator for about two weeks now and show has really jumped into this frying pan and is doing an excellent job. He has been helping her and sending people her way to help naff date what she needs to do, so, yes, the governor has been wonderful. Am i happy im sorry, i didnt hear that. Are you happy with the help that had the community has been receiving . Its slow from what im understanding. You have to understand that im not there. It has been slow, but were a very small community, and and we havent nobody has been able to get in. We have First Responders that belong in mexico beach, and they cannot get through the roads to get there. Many of our police officers, we dont require them to live in mexico beach. Its a very small community. They cant get into mexico beach, our First Responders, so yes and no. Were getting the help, but, of course, we would like it quicker, but its almost impossible right now because of the debris in the roads. Do you know when youll be able to return to mexico beach . Well, my desire was to go back because as employees they are giving the okay and as a councilwoman i was given the okay but the roads arent open and now im thinking i might go back tomorrow and then friends of mine say thats crazy. First of all, what if you need gas in the car . What if you need this . What if you need this, all those things that you dont think about, and so i dont know if ill return tomorrow or not. Im hoping to but i have to think it through. Im sure theres no power or electricity in mexico beach and a whole lot of other communities. And no cell phone. So once youre in there, our communications between each other is very, very minimal. Like you said, theres no power and no cell phone. I think you told me but i think ill ask. Do you know how your own home fared . No, i do not. I keep texting anybody if they go by there to snap a picture. Dont sugar coat, it i just need to know, and, you know, i am i am the first one im on the front line. Im not on the beach side, but there is there are no buildings on the beach in front of me, so its the gulf, the beach, a road and myself, so i am on the front line, but, no, i i dont know yet. I know youre getting emotional, and its totally understandable given what youve gone through, so many others have gone through, and you dont know what the state of your own home is and all your possessions. Were you able to board up the house before you left . Yes. Its very interesting. Because this michael just started last friday as a thunderstorm south of the yucatan, and saturday morning it was a little bit stronger, i said, okay, its going to be a Tropical Storm and weve lived through, that and then theres a couple of boat captains that started passing the word and they were confirmed about michael on saturday. They were concerned. And they were texting everybody else and i started to get nervous and i did start to pack some things up sunday, and they just kept saying this is something to watch. Were not playing around with this one. This one is going to be serious. You know, thats their business. They are both captains and they know the water, and so i you know, they are they know more than i do about the waters. Yeah. And so i so i did do a lot of packing, and some of my friends have laughed at all the Little Things that ive taken so i thought it will be a cat 3 and ill come home and, you know, everything will be fine. Little did i expect for it to be almost a 5. Yeah. Little did i expect, but i did leave. It was a mandatory evacuation. Again, they are the experts, im not, and and thats what i i heed what the experts have said. And you did the right thing by evacuating. Good luck, linda albrecht, the mexico beach, florida councilwoman. Well still in very close touch. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts. All right. Youre welcome. Up next, the hurricane is just one of multiple crises facing the white house right now, but President Trump took some time today to hold a rather bizarre profanityladen Oval Office Meeting with kanye well. Trump is on his heros journey right now, and he might not have expected to have a crazy [ bleep ] like kanye west run up and and support, but best believe we are going to make America Great. If you have moderate to severe psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis, Little Things can be a big deal. Thats why theres otezla. Otezla is not an injection or a cream. Its a pill that treats differently. For psoriasis, 75 clearer skin is achievable, with reduced redness, thickness, and scaliness of plaques. For psoriatic arthritis, otezla is proven to reduce joint swelling, tenderness, and pain. And the otezla prescribing information has no requirement for routine lab monitoring. Dont use if youre allergic to otezla. It may cause severe diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting. Otezla is associated with an increased risk of depression. Tell your doctor if you have a history of depression or suicidal thoughts, or if these feelings develop. Some people taking otezla reported weight loss. 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Liver problems can occur with entyvio®. If your uc or crohns treatment isnt working for you, ask your gastroenterologist about entyvio®. Entyvio®. Relief and remission within reach. When mit rocked our world. Ailed we called usaa. And they greeted me as they always do. Sergeant baker, how are you . They took care of everything a to z. Having insurance is something everyone needs, but having usaa now thats a privilege. With the hurricane disaster still unfolding, the stock market imploding and a policy crisis over a missing saudi journalist, President Trump took some time today to have time with kanye west. Lets go to our senior White House Correspondent jeff zeleny. The meeting was certainly unusual. Reporter yes, it was. The president likes to show his guests at the white house in the oval office, likes to show them around and likes when they hear him speak or see him sign a bill, and he did something very crucial on top of Everything Else and he turned and listened as he turned the microphone over to kanye west in the most unusual settings of all right there in front of the resolute desk. Reporter a surreal scene in the oval office with the president embracing President Trump. Let me give this i go a hug right here. I love this guy right here. The unscripted episode of Reality Television across the resolute desk. How does it feel to be in the oval office . Reporter oh, its good energy in this. The president somehow finding the time for a private meeting and lunch with the controversial rapper and loyal trump supporter that devolved into an incoherent televised rant. This right here is the iplane up, a hydrogenpowered airplane, and this is what our president should be flying in. If he dont look good, we dont look good. This is our president. He has to be the freshest, the flyes flyest. Reporter he came here for a Prison Reform meeting and capped off by capping in the oval office as the president smiled. Trump is on his heros journey right now, and he might not have expected to have a crazy [ bleep ] like kanye west run up and support, but best believe we are going to make America Great. Reporter it was a far cry from what he said about president bush in the days after hurricane katrina. George bush doesnt care about black people. Reporter asked about that today he said this. We also as black people we have to take a responsibility for what were doing. Reporter a striking scene as the administration scrambled to deal with devastation from Hurricane Michael ravaging floridas gulf coast, a second major day with a slide in the stock market and be escalating diplomatic crisis with saudi arabia. I have a very busy day today. Reporter the president said he would visit florida next week to assess damage from one of the most powerful hurricanes to strike to the continental u. S. And as he faces another look at how the government will respond. Its incredible the kind of destruction. Weve not seen destruction like that in a long time. Reporter less than four weeks before the midterm elections, the nations rosy economic picture is suddenly facing a new reality check as the dow plunges more than 1,000 points in two days amid rising interest rates. I think the fed is out of control. I think what they are doing is wrong. Reporter most president s shy away from criticizing the Federal Reserve let alone blaming it for a major stock selloff that most analyst viewed as an inevitable correction to soaring from the market. And tonight its a most unique crisis, the disappearance of a columnist for the Washington Post could up evened upend relations with saudi arabia. As republicans call for tough action, the president is taking far more of a waitandsee approach saying the journalist isnt a u. S. Citizen, but he is a u. S. Resident who lives in virginia. Well, its not our country. Its in turkey, and its not a citizen, as i understand it. But a thing like that shouldnt happen. It is a reporter with the Washington Post, and Something Like that should not be allowed to happen. Reporter the president seemed to take off the Table Economic sanctions or cutting off arms sales to saudi arabia from the u. S. I dont like the concept of stopping an investment of 1 10 billion into the United States because you know what they are going to do. They are going to take that money and spend it in russia or china or some place else, so i think there are other ways. If it turns out to be as bad as it might be, there are certainly other ways of handling this situation. Reporter so the president seemingly there making clear what his priorities are and they are selling arms and keeping an open business relationship with saudi arabia. Wolf, this is something that the president and his top advisers, particularly his is only, Jared Kushner have been trying to build this relationship ever since he came into office. Youll remember the first foreign trip he took as president was to saudi arabia. He was feted there by the crown prince and came back here to washington. There are many more calls on capitol hill for this administration to stand up and do something on this. Wolf, there is no sense of urgency that we could detect on this here at the white house. Yeah, those calls are not just from democrats but republicans as well. Jeff zeleny, thank you very much. We have a lot to discuss with our political and legal analysts. Everybody stand by. 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X1 help. Another reason to love x1. Say teach me more into your voice remote to get started. F were back with our political and legal analyst as we follow multiple breaking stories including a Major Development in the special counsel investigation. President trumps legal team is now preparing answers to written questions provided by muellers team. Lets get right to our chief Political Correspondent dana bash. Tell us what your sources are sharing with you. Well, this is a report that ive done with Gloria Borger and evan perez, and it really is a Significant Development in that for almost a year, maybe even a little bit more, the question has been whether the president would participate with the special counsel in any way, shape or form, and the answer has been tbd. Well, now, were told, according to sources were talking to, familiar with this, that the president s legal team is preparing answers to written questions provided by the special counsel and his team. Now, those those questions and the answers, of course, are solely in and around the question of collusion. It has nothing to do with anything that that that began when the president took office, so nothing about obstruction of justice, for example. And theres also a chance that this is just round one of a back and forth on written questions, so so, you know, we dont know how far this is going to go, but the fact that they have come to this place where they actually can at least have an acceptance on the part of Robert Mueller that he can get some answers from the president in a written form is is quite significant. Well see how it goes. They have been very quiet, you might have noticed over the past several weeks, and we understand this is why. You know, jeffrey toobin, im sure the president s legal team, is preparing those written answers to those questions and how significant is it even if the president does sign it and its all under oath . Well, its significant because its a big win for Rudy Giuliani, jay sekulow and of course the president himself because when you submit written questions and answers, the answers are written by the lawyers in consultation with the client so they can take every bit of care that there is no legal jeopardy imposed on donald trump by what he says in answer to these questions. Theres no spontaneity, no risk, and it is certaily much preferable for the defense team of the president than to than to expose him to to just a freeflowing questions and answers, even if the subjects were defined in advance. This is all it has been months and months in the works, and its all happening apparently right now. How important is this . Well, look, i think the president has been hinting at this over the past few weeks if you listen to what he said specifically with regards to collusion, the collusion issue, and thats what dana says this pertains, to the narrow scope of just addressing that weve heard Rudy Giuliani and all of his spokespeople come out and focus on the conclusion aspect of this investigation. The president as recently as a few days ago brought this up again unprompted with regards to collusion, so i think jeffrey is right. If the focus is on one issue with the answer submitted as opposed to the president sitting down, remember, there were reports that his attorneys were concerned that he would not be able to be honest if he were actually doing this interview in person, so submitting these answers gives him a bit of a buffer if in fact this is the direction that its going in. One thing i want to make clear, if i might, about this reporting is that we have absolutely no indication that there is any agreement on the other big issue and the big question that has been a part of the Mueller Probe for a while which is obstruction of justice. We dont have any indication that the two sides are anywhere near the possibility of talking to the president about that. Certainly we dont have any information or indication that Robert Muellers team has given up on a facetoface interview with the president on that issue. I was just going to just add to jeffreys point. It strikes me that this is a win if this goes through, and i always remind people, Rudy Giuliani said to dana in august, in ten days well decide whether or not donald trump will sit down. Its october 11th, and were not there, and if this does happen reporting from statements, i think its Donald Trumps lawyers over donald trump. Now to jeffs point, thats sort of a cruise to Donald Trumps benefit because its unlikely he gets himself into any legal peril, but, remember, i mean, weve seen this before. When donald trump is deposed, hes not a good witness. There was real concern there that he would get himself this is not a campaign rally. This is not a fox news interview. You cant just say whatever. The if this is how it winds up, that is a major victory for a legal team thats seen a lot of turnover, though relatively stable as of late. I want to go back to what jeffrey said. The lawyers may be taking great care, and even though they are taking great care, but theres still an issue of honesty, dishonesty and truth. Even if the lawyers take great care, these words could come back to haunt the president at some point, the written words. Whether its an inperson interview or whether it is the word, the written word. This president is not known for always having everything on the table, the truth, and the question is will it come back to bite him . Very diplomatic way you phrase that. I try to be. Not always familiar. Lets see how diplomatic all of you are. Ill play a clip of the president meeting with kanye west over at the white house earlier today. Watch this. If he doesnt like good, we dont look good. This is our president. He has to be the freshest, the flyest, the fliest planes, the best factories, and we have to make our core be empowered. We have to bring jobs into america. I dont ask the questions in simple sound bites. You are tasting a fine wine. It has multiple notes to it. A liberal will try to control a black person through the concept of racism because they know were very proud, emotional people, and when i said i like trump to someone thats liberal and they say oh, hes race it. You think racism can control me . Thats an invisible wall. Would you build a trap door and accidently happens and you fall and you end up next to the unabomber, let me give this guy a hug right here. I love this guy right here. Come here. Yes. How many years, april, have you been covering the white house . 21. Have you ever seen anything like this in the oval office . Ive never seen anything like that in the oval office. Ive never heard anything come out of the oval office pubically like that. I mean, weve seen the angst about president s and those who come into the oval office who dont wear jackets. We saw the angst about president obama and president george w. Bush putting their feet on the resolute desk which is in some political circles sacred. Thats the desk where jfk john john, john kennedy jr. Went through the door with his dad when he was president. I mean, people were going crazy about kelly anne putting her feet in the sofa when the photographers came and wanted to take a picture and he said, my god, he said mf in the oval office. Thats sacred in the political world, decorum. In addition to what april has said, whats remarkable about to me is if i said to you donald trump invited kanye to to the oval office. Jeffrey finds it funny. You wouldnt you wouldnt be super surprised, and then if you kind of saw the way it played out, you also wouldnt be super surprised. I mean, this is who donald trump is. He likes celebrities. He likes people who say nice things about him, particularly those who do so in ways that are unpredictable like kanye west. He came in as an adviser role. That is a problem. I dont disagree its a problem. The only thing i would say is this is it is if an alien landed from another planet and they asked, well, give me five minutes on what the Trump Presidency is, this would not be the worst five minutes to show them. Really . Yes. Because i think its unpredictable. I think its driven by his desire to be interesting. Im not saying what it should be. What it is. Right, okay. This is who the guy is. Lets just look at what it was supposed to be, which it was supposed to be a real conversation about really important issues that the president genuinely has been has been looking at in a bipartisan way. Prison reform. Prison reform is first and foremost. Thats why you saw Jared Kushner sitting there. Hes been working with our colleague van jones on that very issue, but were not talking about that. Were talking about this this tenminute monologue dropping the fbomb, and thats whats is unfortunate about it. One thing that ive been wondering though is away from the cameras, they left there and went to lunch, is whether or not kanye west actually used his private moments with the president to explain in a calmer way why he thinks Colin Kaepernick is doing right thing because he not only wears the make America Great hat he wears Colin Kaepernick tshirts all the time. Jeffry, i want you to weigh in on this. Ive got to take a quick back. When we come back well continue this conversation. 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Even when nothing else is. Gopis found a way to keep her receipts tidy, brand vo snap and sort your expenses with quickbooks and find, on average, 4,628 in tax savings. Quickbooks. Backing you. All the tools you need for every step of the way. Make it, squarespace were back with our political and legal experts. What did you think of the president s meeting in the oval office . The public part was about 30 minutes or so with kanye west. Well, look, i was just thinking about the hundreds of thousands of americans who couldnt watch because they dont have power, because they are suffering from one of the worst hurricanes this country has ever seen. The state of florida, the gulf as well. I dont think anybody would have been surprised or upset if the president cancelled a lunch with kanye west because he instead was focused on on the cleanup and the recovery there and the loss of life there. So by going to a real last night, not cancelling that, spending a few hours with kanye west, you know, when you talk about leadership and you talk about what the focus of the country should be on, and, you know, i know cnn had a debate that you were moderating in florida that was cancelled because of this recovery, you know, you put things no perspective when youre coming off one of the worst hurricanes in the country, and you look at all of that devastation, to be focused on kanye west and talking to him and having him curse in the white house and having kid rock follow him, it just seems like its two different worlds that were focused on right now, and so taking that away from the president , i mean, it seems to be a bit surprise. Jeffrey . I have a what different view. When he was talking about how he feels about the president , that he wants him to have the freshest, the flyest stuff, thats how we feel but, wolf. We want you to have the freshest and the flyest stuff, and and thats the thing that i couldnt get out of my head thinking about what kanye was saying in the white house. What makes you think he doesnt, jeffrey . Yeah, really. Its got to stay at that level. Got to stay at the fly level that hes at now. While were at it i do think that it is worth noting that my favorite part of the whole thing is when hes showing kanye is showing donald trump the hydrogenfueled plane picture, and he turns to Jared Kushner and he says how about that, jerry . He went by jerry. And the comments about other things happening are correct. You know, weve got an economy wall street is having some issues. Weve got florida having major issues, death, devastation. A president leads. Leadership meanser is vicious and then what else do we have going on . You know, weve got a journalist, a journalist who is presumed dead or kidnapped, and the president has not made a stance yet and were worried about the spectacle of kanye west looking at donald trump as his dad. Thats the point i was trying to make about whether he talked about Colin Kaepernick, for example. Its not as if celebrities cant have an effect on politicians. They do all the time, and a lot of times for good. I mean, his wife, kim kardashian, went in in private, no cameras, just a still photo and helped get somebody who was wrongly imprisoned. Alice johnson. Freed. Okay. She got salemsy, clemency. Its not as if kanye west can have a real effect. This was probably not the way to have an effect because it took away from the very real issues that people are working in a really robust way, in a bipartisan way in washington to deal with. Its less than four weeks until the midterm elections. Yes. The president clearly believes a meeting like this will help get some africanamerican support for republicans. No, no. There was a lot theres jeffrey laughing again. Jeffrey toobin if you say fly again, i dont think i can handle it. Fly and fresh from jeffrey toobin, thats amazing. Let me say this. Yeah, with less than four weeks. Were talking about a blue tsunami, and were also looking out for this red wave. I dont know if its going to go to tsunami as well, because they are hearing about this blue wave, but africanamericans are very upset right now with with how things have been happening over the last two years, but most importantly with how women have been treated with this kavanaugh confirmation, and just the example alone, the reaction to donald trump within two years. The you have stacy abrams. You have so many others who are poised to be in leadership positions around this nation, with minorities. Well see what happens. Well have much more on all the breaking news including the incredible devastation left by Hurricane Michael. Also, new clues emerging right now about what happens to a saudi journalist who vanished more than a week ago. President trump spoke out about it earlier this afternoon saying if reports of a statesponsored murderer true, in his words its a terrible thing. woman one year ago today mom started searching for her words. And my brother ray and i started searching for answers. vo when its time to navigate inhome care, follow that bright star. Because brightstar care earns the same accreditation as the best hospitals. And brightstar care means an rn will customize a plan that evolves with moms changing needs. woman because dad made us promise wed keep mom at home. vo call 8444brightstar for your free home Care Planning guide. Tonight a u. S. Official tells cnn the working assumption in the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi is he was murdered in the consulate it istanbul, turkey. President trump is taking the matter seriously bus he is against sanction on the saudis who buy billions of dollars in u. S. Military quill. Chief correspondent jim sciutto has been working his sources. What are you hearing . Several lawmakers have been briefed on the intelligence. Based on that intelligence, those lawmakers including bob corker, Senate Foreign relations committee, say it indicates two things. One, that the Saudi Arabian government is responsible and, two, sadly it appears jamal ka is dead. He says he believes the missing jurnltist is dead and saudi arabia is likely responsible. The intel points directly at them and them thinking about this in advance. And i think they did it and unfortunately i think that hes deceased. Cnn has confirmed that the u. S. Has intercepts of sautd i officials discussing a plan to lure ka soej ee back from the u. S. Where he lived to saudi arabia and detain him there, taking him from the consulate is believed to have been the back up plan. Though it is unclear if there was ever a plan or intention to kill him. U. S. Officials say Saudi Crown Prince muhammad bin salman would likely have had to approve of such a plan but cautioned he may not have known of the specifics of the operation. Senator Lindsey Graham warned of, quote, a bipartisan tsunami if the saudi government is proven responsible. Behavior like this is unacceptable, violates every international norm. It cant be condoned. And the way we deal with saudi arabia will be a message to others. The saudi government vehemently denies any involvement. Turkish police say they have evidence otherwise. Their assessment is that he was allegedly killed at the consulate. The New York Times citing turkish officials who say his body was cut up into pieces with a bone saw and taken out. Cctv cameras captured saudi government vehicles leaving the consulate less than two hours after he entered, then driving to the consul generals compound. Turkish authorities have identified 15 saudi men as persons of interest. Several of them caught on camera arriving in istanbul hours before he disappeared. Saudi sources tell cnn that one of them is a former diplomat and intelligence officer. Another a forensics expert. Cnn tracked a separate charter flight departing saudi arabia and landing in istanbul a few hours after his disappearance. It left turkey just an hour later, stopping in cairo, egypt, en route back to saudi arabia. Cnn does not know if the plane was checked or the luggage xrayed. The turkish government now says, quote, at the request much saudi arabia, a joint working group will be established to uncover the events surrounding jamal. The allegations against saudi arabia now sparking an International Crisis at a time when the u. S. Does not have an ambassador there or in turkey. A fact that a Statement Department official seemed to stumble on on wednesday. What is the name of the ambassador in turkey right now . I, i dont have that in front of me right now. What is the name of the ambassador in saudi arabia right now . I see what youre getting at, okay. I spoke to a friend of his this evening. He said that he had been invited back to saudi arabia before this year and did not return, wolf, out of fear for his own safety. I said what specifically was he fearing . He said he feared if he did return to saudi arabia he would be jailed or possibly killed. This was a fear he had before the events that took place just earlier. This is escalating into a major, major diplomatic crisis between the u. S. And saudi arabia. Jim sciutto, thank you very much. A quick note to our viewers. During our next hour, ill be speaking live with a career diplomat who was recently expelled, kicked out of saudi arabia. Also coming up, more breaking news. The death toll is growing along with the scope of the devastation from Hurricane Michael. Were going live to the disaster zone. Plus, the surreal scene inside the oval office today as President Trump meets with kanye west. This place isnt for me. That last place was pretty nice. I dont like this whole thing. I think we can do better. Change is hard. Try to keep an open mind. Come on, dad. This is for me, son . Principal. We can help you plan for that. Touch shows how we really feel. But does psoriasis ever get in the way . Embrace the chance of 100 clear skin with taltz, the first and only treatment of its kind offering people with moderate to severe psoriasis a chance at 100 clear skin. With taltz, up to 90 of people quickly saw a significant improvement of their psoriasis plaques. Dont use if youre allergic to taltz. 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Finding your Xfinity Username or wifi password, restarting your equipment, or paying your bill is easier than ever with x1. X1 help. Another reason to love x1. Say teach me more into your voice remote to get started. Happening now, breaking news, total destruction, an apocalyptic scene in the Florida Panhandle tonight as the death toll from Hurricane Michael rises. Cnn is in the air and on the ground across the disaster zone where one beach town has been wiped out. Russia responses, cnn has learned the president s lawyers are preparing answers to written questions provided by Robert Mueller. Is the special counsel getting close to revealing the results of his investigation . Yikes thats the title of a kanye west hit and it also describes the reaction to the rappers surreal visit to the white house. What was the president thinking as he sat and listened to west rambling . And intercepted, cnn has learned about u. S. Intelligence of saudi officials discussing a plan to lure a now missing journalist back to saudi arabia. This as the Top Republican official tells cnn hes convinced that Jamal Khashoggi was murdered. We want to welcome our viewers in the United States and around the world