FBI to review 9/11 documents related to Saudi Arabia for possible public release

The U.S. Justice Department said Monday that the FBI would review classified documents related to 9/11 that families who lost loved ones in the terrorist attack said could answer questions about possible Saudi Arabia involvement.

The agency told U.S. District Judge George Daniels and U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn in New York City that the FBI now would “identify additional information appropriate for disclosure” and review its earlier claims that it could not provide documents.

The filing came during a lawsuit involving families of 9/11 victims, who are questioning whether Saudi Arabia provided assistance to the hijackers, 15 of which came from that country.

A families’ group said the Justice Department action didn’t go far enough.

“We appreciate that President Biden recognizes that long-standing questions about the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s involvement in the worst-ever terrorist attack on American soil remain unanswered, but nobody should be fooled by this half-hearted, insufficient commitment to transparency,” said Terry Strada of Basking Ridge, co-chair of 9/11 Community United.

Strada and other relatives of those killed in the worst terrorist attack in American history joined U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez last Thursday as the New Jersey Democrat introduced bipartisan legislation requiring the Biden administration to review all documents relating to 9/11 and either publicly release them or say why they can’t.

As the nation prepares to mark the 20th anniversary of the attack, Menendez said at the press conference that the families deserved to know what the government knows about Saudi Arabia.