"Deep state shoots and scores!"[TheMindUnleashed] In a last minute court filing, U.S. officials demanded a federal judge block the release of files detailing Saudi connections to the 9/11 attacks.
On Monday, U.S. Attorney General William Barr, acting director of national intelligence Richard Grenell, and other senior officials called on a federal judge to prevent the disclosure of files related to the role of the government of Saudi Arabia in the September 11 attacks. The officials told the judge in the civil case that the release of the files would endanger national security.
The files are being sought by families of the 9/11 victims who have spent the last two decades attempting to uncover the truth about the attacks. The families filed a lawsuit in federal district court in New York in 2017 as part of their effort to uncover the role of the Saudi government. What is publicly known is that the alleged 9/11 hijackers had a relationship with Saudi government officials. As Pro Public reported, at the 2019 White House September 11 memorial, U.S. President Donald Trump promised the families he would help them uncover the truth about 9/11. He made similar promises while he was campaigning for president.
"He looked us in the eye on 9/11, he shook our hands in the White House and said, ’I’m going to help you—it’s done’," Brett Eagleson, a banker whose father was killed in the World Trade Center, told Pro Publica. "I think the 9/11 families have lost all hope that the president is going to step up and do the right thing. He’s too beholden to the Saudis."
The Trump Administration stated that the national security threat was so great that even sharing the reasoning behind the request for secrecy could cause harm. According to Pro Publica, AG Barr told the court that public discussion of the issue "would reveal information that could cause the very harms my assertion of the state secrets privilege is intended to prevent."
Pro Publica notes that four statements from FBI and Justice Department officials were also under seal and can not be seen by the public. Another five statements from FBI, Justice Department, and CIA officials were only seen by the judge and could not even be shared with the families’ lawyers. Steven Pounian, a lawyer for the families also suggested that "there must be some deep, dark secret that they’re still trying very hard to hide after almost 20 year," and that it "might be a Saudi government secret."
The extent of US Intelligence (USI) knowledge via internal reporting or reporting from friendly foreign intelligence services, along with subsequent monitoring (or failure to monitor), might not be something USI is eager to share.
Related:
William Barr,: 2019-12-02 U.S. Court Denies Trump Administration Bid To Resume Federal Executions
William Barr,: 2019-10-20 'God knows why': Long wait for DOJ inspector general report on alleged FISA abuses vexes Trump allies
William Barr,: 2019-10-17 'Food fight' over FISA report could lead to extensive redactions
William Barr,: 2019-12-02 U.S. Court Denies Trump Administration Bid To Resume Federal Executions
William Barr,: 2019-10-20 'God knows why': Long wait for DOJ inspector general report on alleged FISA abuses vexes Trump allies
William Barr,: 2019-10-17 'Food fight' over FISA report could lead to extensive redactions
Related:
Richard Grenell: 2020-04-16 Declassified Horowitz Footnotes Show Obama Officials Knew Steele Dossier Was Russian Disinformation Designed To Target Trump
Richard Grenell: 2020-04-15 Senator Richard Burr Sold D.C. Townhouse to Donor at a Rich Price
Richard Grenell: 2020-04-08 Senior Intel Officials Criticize Adam Schiff's Letter To Director Richard Grenell, Pressing Him Over ODNI Personnel Changes
Richard Grenell: 2020-04-16 Declassified Horowitz Footnotes Show Obama Officials Knew Steele Dossier Was Russian Disinformation Designed To Target Trump
Richard Grenell: 2020-04-15 Senator Richard Burr Sold D.C. Townhouse to Donor at a Rich Price
Richard Grenell: 2020-04-08 Senior Intel Officials Criticize Adam Schiff's Letter To Director Richard Grenell, Pressing Him Over ODNI Personnel Changes
"If you know the identify or whereabouts of the two 'persons of interest' pictured here, please notify the Boston FBI Special Agent In Charge (SAC) at the number on the bottom of your screen."