9/11 Families Tell Biden He’s Not Welcome at Memorial Events Unless He Declassifies Documents

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Nearly 1,800 Americans impacted by the Sept. 11 attacks are calling on President Joe Biden to skip 20th anniversary events in New York and Shanksville, PA, due to what they say is a lack of transparency.

According to NBC News, those opposing Biden’s participation include victim’s family members, first responders, and survivors who want Biden to declassify documents they believe will show that Saudi Arabian officials supported the attacks.

Fifteen of the 19 hijackers who crashed planes into the World Trade Center, Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania were from Saudi Arabia. Nearly 3,000 people died in the attacks.

A U.S. commission found no evidence tying Saudi leaders to the attack but noted it had been a “problematic ally” in regards to sharing intelligence. According to NBC, the report did note that Saudi nationals were a major source of funding for Al Qaeda.

“Since the conclusion of the 9/11 Commission in 2004 much investigative evidence has been uncovered implicating Saudi government officials in supporting the attacks,” the letter reads. “Through multiple administrations, the Department of Justice and the FBI have actively sought to keep this information secret and prevent the American people from learning the full truth about the 9/11 attacks.”

The letter notes that Biden promised during his campaign to “err on the side of disclosure” and try to give families of Sept. 11 victims answers. However, Biden has so far not followed through on his commitment, the letter states.

“As we approach the 20th anniversary of 9/11, and having been used as a political bargaining chip for two
decades, our patience has expired,” they wrote. “We had great hope that President Biden, who campaigned on bringing truth and trust back to the Oval Office, would value the lives and sacrifices of America’s citizens over diplomatic relations with a country accused of mass murder.”

The signatories noted that the Biden administration still has the “historic opportunity to fulfill his campaign promise,” but if he “reneges on his commitment and sides with the Saudi government, we would be compelled to publicly stand in objection to any participation by his administration in any memorial
ceremony of 9/11, ceremony of 9/11, given its continuation of polices that thwart Americans’ rights to hold accountable those who, known evidence reveals, materially supported the 9/11 hijackers.”

NBC News reported that after the story’s publication, a Biden administration source said the Justice Department is expected to begin a review of the classified documents to see what can be released, though that process likely will not be complete ahead of the 20th anniversary.