Trump Considers 9/11 Records Declassification Amid Calls for Transparency
President Trump weighs declassifying 9/11 records as families push for more transparency.
2 min read
President Donald Trump has begun considering a request from families of 9/11 victims to declassify and release further records concerning potential connections between Saudi Arabia and the attacks. This move reflects a growing demand for transparency surrounding the events of September 11, 2001.
Experts Call for Comprehensive Release of Records
Raymond Orzel, a financial investigator with expertise in international terrorist groups, highlighted the fragmented nature of the records related to 9/11. He noted that while a significant volume of documents has been released over the years, they are scattered across multiple agencies, including the National Archives, FBI, CIA, courts, and FOIA records.
Orzel emphasized that the current state of these records complicates efforts to fully understand the events of 9/11. The documents include the 9/11 Commission records, FAA and aviation documentation, FBI investigative files, materials from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), investigative records linked to Saudi entities, additional memoranda from 9/11 Commission interviews, presidential and White House records, court documents, evidence from lawsuits, and more.
Key Documents Still Classified
Despite the wealth of information available, several crucial documents remain undisclosed. These include various intelligence files, FBI operational files related to the “PENTTBOM” investigation, grand jury materials, and personally identifiable information (PII). Orzel argued that these records should be made public to provide a clearer understanding of the events leading up to the attacks.
He also pointed out that the fact that two of the terrorists were already on watch lists before 9/11 was insufficient to prevent them from boarding the planes. Orzel stressed that the records related to law enforcement and intelligence agencies who tracked the financial activities of al-Qaeda and other terrorist organizations should also be released.
USCS Identified Hijackers Quickly
Orzel noted that the U.S. Customs Service (USCS) Office of Intelligence was able to identify the likely terrorist hijackers within 45 minutes of the attacks. The passenger lists, including the names of the victims and the 19 likely hijackers, were forwarded to the FBI and the intelligence community. He argued that these records should also be released to further clarify the circumstances surrounding the attacks.
“After 25 years,” Orzel said, “a lot more can be learned about 9/11, but only if the records are made available for us all to draw our respective conclusions. Isn’t that what transparency is all about?” As President Trump considers the declassification of more records, Orzel’s call for openness resonates with the ongoing quest for answers and accountability regarding one of the most pivotal events in modern history.
Source: The Gateway Pundit
