Leon Panetta expresses doubt that declassified documents on 9/11 attacks shed light on Saudi Arabia’s role

by



[ad_1]

“I think the families of the victims have a right to know the full truth about what was involved and who was involved when it came to 9/11. I suspect they will not get the kind of satisfactory answers on the issue. Saudi Arabia’s role in this attack, ”Panetta told CNN’s Jim Acosta on the 20th anniversary of the deadly attacks.

But Panetta said the review and release of information is still consistent.

“At the same time, I think it’s important to release this information so that we have a better idea of ​​who played what role in the 9/11 tragedy,” Panetta said.

Biden signed an executive order earlier this month directing the Justice Department and other federal agencies to proceed with the declassification review. The move came about a month after more than 1,600 people affected by the 9/11 attacks issued a letter calling on Biden to refrain from traveling to Ground Zero in New York City to mark the anniversary of the event in unless it publishes additional documents and information to the government. previously blocked.

The review may result in the publication of new documents, if the agencies find any that can be declassified.

“The executive order requires the attorney general to release declassified documents within the next six months,” Biden wrote in a statement at the time. “My heart continues to be with the families of 9/11 who are suffering, and my administration will continue to respectfully engage with members of this community. I salute their voices and ideas as we chart a course forward.”

The letter from the families of September 11 questioned in part Saudi Arabia’s role on that fateful day, suggesting that members of the Saudi government had been implicated in “supporting the attacks”.
Shortly after the letter, the Justice Department announced that it would review previously withheld information or documents relating to the September 11, 2001 attacks that it may disclose to the public.

A spokesperson for the Department of Justice said in August that the government informed a Manhattan federal court that the FBI had recently closed an investigation into some 9/11 hijackers.

Although this development followed United States District Court rulings upholding the government’s claims of privilege, the FBI has decided to revisit its previous claims of privilege to identify additional information appropriate for disclosure. The FBI will release. this information on an ongoing basis as quickly as possible, ”the spokesperson said.

Biden praised the DOJ’s decision at the time, saying it followed through on its campaign pledge to get the department to work on releasing the 9/11 tapes and doubled down on its commitment to the families of the 9/11 victims. .

Biden visited Ground Zero on Saturday, as well as the other two sites of the September 11, 2001 attacks: Shanksville, Pa. And the Pentagon in Washington, DC.

CNN’s Donald Judd contributed to this report.

[ad_2]

Source link