9/11 Families Statement on Revoked Plea Deal & Ongoing Fight For 9/11 Accountability

Calls on Congress to Swiftly Pass “Ensuring Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act”

Washington, D.C. – 9/11 Families United today commended the decision announced Friday night by U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin to revoke the plea deal for the mastermind and accomplices of the 9/11 attacks but noted this week’s events, including a Wednesday court hearing in New York City where lawyers for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia fought to keep 9/11 evidence hidden from the American people, highlight why the fight for justice, transparency, and accountability for the worst terrorist attacks in American history remains ongoing almost 23 years later.  

Terry Strada, National Chair of 9/11 Families United, said today that the 9/11 community is renewing its call for Congress to swiftly pass the bipartisan Ensuring Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act (EJVTA) this year and keep their promise to support victims of terrorism. The bipartisan EJVTA reaffirms the intent of Congress when it passed the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) in 2016 that American victims of terrorism on American soil can seek financial compensation from foreign sponsors of terrorism. It has been introduced in the U.S. House and Senate with the support of leading Members of Congress in both parties.

“Secretary Austin’s decision to revoke the lenient plea deals for these terrorists is a relief for many families like mine, who have tirelessly fought for justice and to have our voices heard. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his associates should be shown the same mercy they showed my husband and the thousands of others they brutally murdered on 9/11—none. We are grateful to Secretary Austin for doing the right thing and listening to the voices of the 9/11 community.

“This week’s events are a reminder that Congress must also keep its promise to the 9/11 community by passing the bipartisan Ensuring Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act (EJVTA), which high-priced lobbyists for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are trying to block from moving forward.  As we saw in federal court in New York City just this week, the Kingdom and its army of lawyers and lobbyists have long sought to keep evidence of its role in the 9/11 attacks hidden from the American public. 

“Al-Qaeda enjoyed $30 million a year in support from wealthy financiers and supporters – much of which flowed through Saudi government-sponsored ‘Islamic charities,’ run by Saudi officials. Saudi officials provided financial and other material support to the 9/11 hijackers upon their arrival in the United States. One of its intelligence agents shot a casing video of the U.S. Capitol and was found to be in possession of plane drawings and flight calculations that could be used to view a target from an aircraft and then calculate the rate of descent to the target. 

“Any further delay in passing the EJVTA will empower terrorism defendants to dodge accountability in the courts and deny the 9/11 community the justice that we have been seeking since the murders of our family members. The 9/11 community is counting on our elected leaders in both parties to join together to move this legislation forward as soon as possible.”

Additional Background:

As U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), the lead Senate Republican sponsor of both JASTA and the EJVTA, explained recently:

  • “By making minor technical edits, this bill makes sure JASTA works the way it was intended to, reaffirms our commitment to holding sponsors of terrorism accountable, and ensures victims’ families can continue to seek justice against those who perpetrated these horrific acts.” [Click Here For More]

The EJVTA is a modest, technical corrections bill to address three drafting oversights in the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) and the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA).  These technical corrections break no new policy ground, but simply:

  • Reaffirm that the ATA’s aiding and abetting liability cause of action applies as to foreign states;
    • provide that those facing judgments face the normal execution procedures in like cases; and
    • ensure that all damaged and injured parties can bring their claims.
  • The EJVTA is supported by over 99% of September 11 victims’ family members, injured survivors, and those who are sick and dying from 9/11-related illnesses—more than 10,000 Americans seeking justice for the murder of their loved ones and injured survivors.
  • These technical corrections do not relate to President Obama’s ill-advised veto of JASTA in 2016, which Congress easily overrode (97-1; 348-77). President Obama had concerns about the sovereign immunity portions of the bill, predicting dire international consequences that never materialized in any form whatsoever. President Obama did not express any objections to the provisions addressed by the EJVTA, nor did those who supported his veto.

Since JASTA’s passage, the 9/11 community has been pursuing justice and accountability in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. That court’s misinterpretations of JASTA have made EJVTA necessary.

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