9/11 Victims’ Families Call for Transparency Regarding Attacks

(HorizonPost.com) – The events of 9/11/2001 scarred the collective psyche of the American people who were alive then. Even 20 years later, some people are still fighting to uncover the identities of people and countries — specifically the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and individuals within that government — that may have played a role in the attack. In October 2020, President Joe Biden promised that his administration would work to be more transparent about the attacks if he won the election.

However, the new administration is following the lead of the three prior presidents and is maintaining the use of the state secrets privilege. This is preventing people from getting documents needed as evidence in their lawsuit against the Arab country. As a result, 9/11 families are now asking Biden not to come to memorial events unless he agrees to share that information. An 1,800 strong group of survivors/families issued a statement that read in part, “we cannot in good faith welcome the president… to our hallowed grounds until he fulfills his commitment… [and they] publicly stand in objection to any participation by his administration in any memorial ceremony of 9/11.”

9/11 families ask Biden not to attend memorial events unless the administration declassifies documents regarding Saudi Arabia’s role in the deadly attacks. https://t.co/5PlDAR5ax6 pic.twitter.com/hCQHzSdBnK

— The Hill (@thehill) August 6, 2021

There may be some merit to the litigants’ belief that classified documents could prove their claim. A New York Times article published August 2, 2003, professes to have information from “people who have seen the report” regarding links between them and the terrorists behind the attacks.

Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), John Cornyn (R-TX), and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) are all cosponsors of the “September 11th Transparency Act of 2021” in support of those fighting the court battle. Recognizing the importance of the bill, Senator Menendez pointed out last week that Americans and the victims’ families “have a right to know” what really happened.