Saudi Arabia is prepared to admit that journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed during an interrogation that went wrong, according to reports on Monday.

The kingdom is readying a report that will say Khashoggi’s death happened during an interrogation before being removed from Turkey, CNN reported.

The report will conclude that the operation was carried out “without clearance” and that those involved will be held responsible, the network said, but cautioned that it could still change.

The Wall Street Journal also reported that Khashoggi was killed during a botched interrogation.

Separately, the New York Times reported that Saudi Arabian officials were developing a scenario that would shield Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman from any involvement.

It said that version would accuse a friend of the prince for carrying out the killing.

Khashoggi, who wrote for the Washington Post, was living in self-imposed exile in the United States over the past year because he feared being arrested for writing critical articles about the Saudi ruling family.

The news comes after President Trump said he talked to Saudi King Salman and he “flatly denied” knowing anything about the disappearance of Khashoggi, who went missing from the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.

After speaking to the king, Trump suggested that “rogue killers” may have been involved in Khashoggi’s disappearance.

“He didn’t really know. Maybe – I don’t want to get into his mind – but it sounded to me like maybe these could have been rogue killers – who knows?” the president said.