Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo responded to the Washington Post after its publisher criticized his characterization of slain journalist and Saudi government critic Jamal Khashoggi; U.S. intelligence personnel concluded he was killed at the direction of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman al-Saud.
In Pompeo's new book, "Never Give an Inch," the former Kansas congressman underlined Khashoggi's killing was "outrageous, unacceptable" and "horrific", but later characterized the Saudi native as an activist more so than a journalist.
In a fiery statement, Washington Post Publisher Frederick Ryan Jr. claimed Pompeo "outrageously misrepresent[ed]" Khashoggi.
Khashoggi was killed five years ago after visiting the Saudi Arabian consulate in Turkey.
Ryan, a Republican and a long-time chairman of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation, claimed Pompeo was spreading "vile falsehoods to dishonor a courageous man's life and service … as a ploy to sell books."
Pompeo says he was not surprised by Ryan's attacks, and that the Post tried to undermine efforts of the Trump administration.