Transcript for Trump praises congressman who body-slammed reporter

Now to president trump at a rally praising the congressman who body slammed a reporter just hours after warning of very severe consequences if Saudi Arabia is responsible for that "Washington post" reporter. Ian Pannell has the latest on that. Good morning, Ian. Reporter: Yeah, good morning, Amy. The act of violence against a journalist that the president was celebrating at last night's rally was something the Montana congressman himself apologized for last year, even pleading guilty to misdemeanor assault charges and the newspaper whose journalist was attacked, "The guardian" is warning in the aftermath of Jamal khashoggi's possible murder, these comments could invite, quote, assaults on journalists across the world. Overnight at a rally in Montana, president trump praised Republican representative Greg gianforte. Any guy that could do a body slam, he's my kind. He's my guy. Reporter: This coming after gianforte was charged with assaulting Ben Jacobs back in 2017, an incident caught on audiotape. I'm sick and tired of you guys. You just body slammed me and broke my glasses. I said he's going to lose the moment then I said, wait a minute, I know Montana pretty well. I think it might help him and it did. Reporter: This as president trump threatened severe consequences if the Saudis are found responsible for the murder of "Washington post" writer Jamal khashoggi. Well, it'll have to be very severe. I mean, it's bad, bad stuff. Reporter: ABC news has been told exclusively that secretary of state Mike Pompeo allegedly heard an audio recording of the writer's murder during meetings in Ankara according to a senior Turkish official who spoke anonymously. The official adds that Pompeo was also given a transcript of the recording. But overnight Pompeo vigorously denied the claims. Sflif's heard no tape. I've seen no transcript and the network that recorded that ought to pull down the headline that says I have. Reporter: When asked for comment yesterday, the white house referred questions back to the state department. On his way to that rally yesterday, president trump was asked if he believed khashoggi was dead. It certainly looks that way to me. It's very sad. Reporter: But Pompeo's urging the need for more time saying the Saudis promised him a complete and thorough investigation. I told president trump this morning that we ought to give them a few more days to complete that. Reporter: And now new details appear to tie a member of the Saudi royal family's entourage to the incident. Images from a pro-government Turkish newspaper claim to show one alleged member of that squad, Maher Abdulaziz mutreb, in istanbul the day the journalist went missing. In the newly released images mutreb is seen apparently entering the Saudi consulate just hours before khashoggi. Later that evening mutreb is then allegedly outside the consul general's home. The same one that became a key focus for Turkish investigators. And seen clearing security at the airport before apparently leaving Turkey. Well, one of the developments after much pressure and delay, treasury secretary Steve mnuchin also pulling out of that major Saudi tech conference joining a long list of CEOs and companies also deciding not to attend. Leaving Saudi plans for a Davos in the desert in Tatters. Commit. Ian Pannell in istanbul, our thanks to you.

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