Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Stands With 9/11 Families In Call To Release FBI Investigation Documents

Press Release

Today, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) voiced her support for the over 3,000 family members of people who lost their lives in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks as they called upon U.S. Attorney General William Barr to reconsider his recent "state secrets" decisions, which in recent months twice prevented the release of key documents related to the investigation of the attacks to the families.

A letter sent today by the families to Attorney General Barr questions why defense attorneys for accused 9/11 terrorists being held at Guantanamo Bay have access to 20,000 - 25,000 pages of government documents that the U.S. Department of Justice has denied to the families. Attorney General Barr is scheduled to appear before the House Judiciary Committee on July 28.

"This situation is reprehensible and unacceptable," say the families in the letter. "How can it be that the mastermind (Khalid Sheikh Mohamed) behind the deadliest attack on American soil is somehow entitled, under your DOJ's direction, to relevant U.S. government investigative documents about the 9/11 plot, yet the families whose loved ones were wrenched from us so painfully and ruthlessly that day are prohibited from seeing this same information?"

"The actions of the Attorney General in this matter are outrageous," said Rep. Tulsi Gabbard. "At every turn, it seems, our DOJ and FBI look to derail our 9/11 families' pursuit of justice and transparency. These families and the American people deserve answers about those who supported and enabled the 9/11 terrorist hijackers, who could not and did not act alone. Hiding behind and abusing the use of the state secrets doctrine in this matter is unjustified and an affront to the American people."

In September 2019, the day after 9/11 family members met with President Trump at the White House to request documents from the FBI investigation into the attacks, Attorney General Barr invoked the "state secrets" privilege, which prohibited the release of the documents to the families requesting them.

In October 2019, Rep. Gabbard stood with the 9/11 families and publicly demanded the declassification of 9/11 investigative documents containing information that may implicate the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the attacks, based upon other evidence. She also introduced H.Res.662, calling on the Federal Government to declassify and release information regarding the attacks in order to ensure a full public understanding of what happened and who was involved.

Background: Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is a veteran of the War of Terror, and in Congress has advocated for the victims and family members of those killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. She also led bipartisan legislation to end Presidential wars as well as prohibit the U.S. from arming terrorists through counterproductive programs in which terrorist groups -- including those affiliated with al-Qaeda -- were armed and trained using American taxpayer dollars.

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