Wray Promises Massie: FBI Will Review 9/11 Files for Declassification 6/10/21

During Thursday's oversight hearing for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), I asked FBI Director Christopher Wray to commit to an expedited review of the agency's 9/11 files. The purpose of this review will be to determine whether the FBI can provide additional information to the families of 9/11 victims who are suing Saudi Arabia pursuant to congressional legislation.
Congress passed the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) to ensure that the 9/11 families' case against Saudi Arabia could proceed. In 2018, the 9/11 families issued a subpoena for records that are critical to that lawsuit. According to lawyers for the victims' families, the FBI has refused to search its complete files for responsive documents, claiming that the process would be too burdensome. The lawyers also claim that the FBI has continued to withhold key documents and has significantly redacted others, even though the records concern events that occurred 20 years ago.
I asked Director Wray to commit to an expedited review of the FBI's documents to produce relevant information to the 9/11 families to the fullest extent possible. Furthermore, I asked the Director to request that the Director of National Intelligence review documents that have previously been withheld to reconsider whether they can be released to the families. I am pleased to report that Director Wray has promised to take action to further these goals.
The FBI must not sacrifice justice for the 9/11 families over concerns about diplomacy. On behalf of these families, I am pleased that Director Wray's public promise may lead to the release of additional evidence.
Rep. Thomas Massie