Is Nikki Haley’s Resignation Tied to Khashoggi’s Murder?

For days I’ve been getting emails from TPM Readers asking me if I thought there was a connection between the assassination of Saudi exile Jamal Khashoggi (10/2) and the resignation of UN Ambassador Nikki Haley (10/9). In response to each email I gave a version of this response: I could think of no positive evidence whatsoever connecting the two events. But I had definitely considered the possibility for the simple reasons that 1) Khashoggi’s disappearance and apparent murder was a major international incident that lined up closely in time with Haley’s departure and 2) we have yet to receive any credible explanation for Haley’s abrupt resignation. Remember: not only did Haley’s departure come as a public surprise. Apparently the most senior members of President Trump’s foreign policy team were also caught off guard by her resignation.