Bipartisan Effort to Obtain Report on Saudi Role in 9/11 Attacks

By CBS News

09 January 15

awmakers and some family members of those killed in the 9/11 attacks are pushing for a joint congressional report issued in the aftermath of the attacks to be declassified.

Congressmen Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.) and Walter Jones (R-N.C.) spoke to CBSN about their mission to declassify the 28-page report which raises questions about the relationship Saudi Arabia may have had with the 9/11 hijackers. The pages are part of the larger 9/11 report released a decade ago.

"There is no security reason in declassifying this information," said Rep. Jones. "The 9/11 families and the American people have a right to see the 28-pages and then make the decision for themselves."

The administrations of Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama refuse to declassify the report for national security reasons.

But congressional critics say there is nothing to fear about the report's release. Congressmen Lynch and Jones wrote a letter to President Obama calling for the report's declassification, but have yet to receive a response from the White House.

"Not only is it the right thing to do from a transparency point of view," said Rep. Lynch. "I think it will inform our foreign policy and national security policy going forward."

Some like Philip Zelikow, former executive director of the 9/11 commission, who reviewed the report, believe it should remain secret.

Thirteen years have elapsed since the 9/11 attacks, and that, the Congressmen told CBSN should be enough.

Put it out there," Lynch said. "And if you think it's false, go ahead and punch holes in it."