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CIA director John Brennan expects release of 9/11 documents to clear Saudi Arabia | CIA director John Brennan expects release of 9/11 documents to clear Saudi Arabia |
(about 5 hours later) | |
CIA director John O. Brennan expects a classified US congressional report into the 9/11 attacks to be published, clearing Saudi Arabia of any blame. | |
The withheld section of the 2002 report into the era-defining terrorist strikes is central to a dispute over whether Americans should be able to sue the Saudi government for damages. | The withheld section of the 2002 report into the era-defining terrorist strikes is central to a dispute over whether Americans should be able to sue the Saudi government for damages. |
But Mr Brennan, who runs the country’s foreign intelligence service, told Saudi-owned Arabiya TV: "I think the 28 pages will be published, and I support their publication. Everyone will see the evidence that the Saudi government had nothing to do with it.” | |
The US Senate passed a bill in May allowing families of the 9/11 victims to launch legal action, but the White House has threatened to veto any attempts to do so. | The US Senate passed a bill in May allowing families of the 9/11 victims to launch legal action, but the White House has threatened to veto any attempts to do so. |
Saudi Arabia denies providing any support for the 19 hijackers – most of whom were Saudi citizens – who killed nearly 3,000 people in the 9/11 attacks. Riyadh strongly objects to the bill. | Saudi Arabia denies providing any support for the 19 hijackers – most of whom were Saudi citizens – who killed nearly 3,000 people in the 9/11 attacks. Riyadh strongly objects to the bill. |
The Saudi government has said it might sell up to $750bn (£526bn) of investments in American assets if it becomes law. | |
Mr Brennan called the 28-page section merely a "preliminary review", but previously said it should be kept out of the public domain for fear of fuelling unfounded rumours. | Mr Brennan called the 28-page section merely a "preliminary review", but previously said it should be kept out of the public domain for fear of fuelling unfounded rumours. |
He added: "It was found later, according to the results of the report, that there was no link between the Saudi government as a state or as an institution, or even senior Saudi officials, to the September 11 attacks." | |
The Office of the US Director of National Intelligence is reviewing the material to see whether it can be declassified. | The Office of the US Director of National Intelligence is reviewing the material to see whether it can be declassified. |
Bob Graham, a former US senator who co-chaired the congressional inquiry into the attacks, said the White House would likely make a decision by June on whether it would release the classified pages. | |
Mr Graham told ABC News: “The 28 pages primarily relate to who financed 9/11; they point a very strong finger at Saudi Arabia as being the principal financier. | |
“The position of the United States government has been to protect Saudi Arabia. | “The position of the United States government has been to protect Saudi Arabia. |
“At virtually every step of the judicial process, when the United States government was called upon to take a position, it has been a position adverse to the interests of United States citizens seeking justice, and protective of the government which, in my judgement, was the most responsible for that network of support.” | |
The former Democratic senator has joined Republican Walter Jones and Democrat Stephen Lynch as part of his campaign, along with families of the victims. | |
The pair have introduced legislation to force President Barack Obama to publish the 28 pages. | The pair have introduced legislation to force President Barack Obama to publish the 28 pages. |
If evidence proving a firm link between Saudi Arabia and the attackers, who were led by Egyptian-born Mohamad Atta, it would be possible for families of victims to sue the oil-rich kingdom through the US courts. |
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