One lingering question is why Mohammed might have decided to kill Khashoggi, who was not agitating for the crown princes removal.
A theory the CIA has developed is that Mohammed believed Khashoggi was a dangerous Islamist who was too sympathetic to the Muslim Brotherhood, according to people familiar with the assessment. Days after Khashoggi disappeared, Mohammed relayed that view in a phone call with Kushner and John Bolton, the national security adviser, who has long opposed the Brotherhood and seen it as a regional security threat.
Mohammeds private condemnation of the slain journalist stood in contrast to his governments public comments, which mourned Khashoggis killing as a terrible mistake and a tragedy.
U.S. officials are unclear on when or whether the Saudi government will follow through with its threatened executions of the individuals blamed for Khashoggis killing. It could happen overnight or take 20 years, the U.S. official said, adding that the treatment of subordinates could erode Mohammeds standing going forward.
In killing those who followed his orders, its hard to get the next set [of subordinates] to help, the official said.
John Hudson and Missy Ryan in Washington, Souad Mekhennet in Frankfurt, and Loveday Morris and Kareem Fahim in Istanbul contributed to this report.