âť“WHAT HAPPENED: A federal judge ruled that a lawsuit alleging Saudi Arabia’s involvement in the 9/11 attacks can proceed, with evidence suggesting Saudi officials supported the hijackers.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Families of 9/11 victims, Judge George Daniels, and Saudi government officials allegedly connected to the attacks.
đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: The ruling was issued two weeks ago by the Southern District of New York, with a press conference held in New York City on Wednesday.
đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “There were at least 13 Saudi government officials connected to the Ministry of Islamic Affairs… funneling support… to the hijackers’ handlers, right down to the hijackers themselves.” – Plaintiff Brett Eagleson
🎯IMPACT: The case is likely headed for trial, potentially exposing Saudi Arabia’s alleged role in the 9/11 attacks.
A group of family members of 9/11 victims is celebrating a federal court ruling that allows their lawsuit, aimed at holding Saudi Arabia accountable for its alleged role in the 2001 terrorist attacks, to proceed. Senior U.S. District Court Judge George Daniels found it is reasonable to infer, as claimed in the lawsuit, that two individuals named in the lawsuit were sent by elements of the Saudi government to the United States in an effort to provide support to the al-Qaeda terrorists plotting the attack.
“Some of the disputed facts cannot be resolved at this stage of the litigation, because weighing the evidence or assessing witnesses’ credibility will need to take place at trial,” Judge Daniels wrote in his 45-page ruling. The federal judge continued: “Nonetheless, the entire body of undisputed facts, and the Court’s preliminary assessment of certain disputed facts, are adequate for the Court to conclude that the exercise of subject matter jurisdiction is appropriate here.”
One of the lead plaintiffs, Brett Eagleson—the son of 9/11 victim Jon Eagleson—called the ruling a “historic, landmark decision” that is based on “indefensible evidence” that the Saudi government played a role in the attack.
“There were at least 13 Saudi government officials connected to the Ministry of Islamic Affairs. They were working and operating in and out of the Saudi consulates and the Saudi embassies,” Eagleson said, continuing: “They were funneling support from the Ministry of Islamic Affairs in Washington, D.C., to their embassies in San Diego, to the hijackers’ handlers, right down to the hijackers themselves.”
“It’s been 24 years of pain and anguish and fighting for our families. What happened to this community, what happened to America that day, was horrific. However, what’s happening currently and what’s been happening for the past 24 years has been an abomination,” he added.
The ruling likely clears the way for the lawsuit to proceed to trial. Saudi Arabia has persistently denied claims of its involvement in 9/11.
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