What did they know and when did they know it?
Federal Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn directed the Saudi Arabian government to make 24 current and former officials—including a prince and his chief of staff—available for depositions about what they knew leading up to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 Americans.
The families of victims have been seeking the right to depose Saudi officials for a number of years to determine if the Kingdom had a role in assisting al Qaeda operatives that hijacked the four aircraft involved in the terror attacks.
So far, Saudi Arabia has not agreed to produce the witnesses identified in the order, and they may still challenge or seek to minimize the implications of the judge’s ruling.
The families have also accused the U.S. government of a coverup and have pinned much of the blame on Attorney General William Barr who has sought to block the release of documents. Barr claims the documents, if released, would put national security at risk. The new ruling has basically allowed the deposition of Saudi members, and not the release of documents.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For the families of the victims of 9/11 as they continue to pursue responsibility for the terror attacks.
- For Attorney General William Barr as he seeks to ensure national security.
- For U.S.-Saudi relations in the wake of the judge’s ruling.
Sources: New York Times, Reuters, Cision Newswire
