At a press conference Tuesday afternoon, Attorney General Jeff Sessions addressed Jamal Khashoggi's disappearance and defended the role of journalists.
"The matter’s being given serious evaluation," Sessions said when asked about the situation, although though he declined to comment on "what might be occurring."
Then, seemingly addressing both Khashoggi and journalists writ large, including those killed covering Mexican drug cartels, Sessions said the trend was “unacceptable."
"The world will be diminished if journalists aren’t able to go and travel and to report honestly conditions in differing countries. Or people in their own country can’t report on corruption or crime or misconduct in their countries. So I think it can even separate countries from a civilized community," Sessions said.
"I feel strongly about it. The President feels strongly about it," he added. "We at the Department of Justice will do what we can and I think maybe give new attention to this issue.”