Saudi Arabia calls 60 Minutes story "myths"
Members of Congress called for the disclosure of 28 pages of top-secret 9/11 documents, following Sunday's 60 Minutes story, while the Saudi Embassy called the report a "compilation of myths."
As Steve Kroft reported, former members of Congress who participated in the 9/11 investigations are urging the White House to make public the "28 pages" that could show Saudi support for some of the 9/11 hijackers.
In the wake of the story, other members of Congress -- both Democrats and Republicans -- joined in. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi urged the Obama administration to declassify the documents:
Redacted portions of the 9/11 Joint Inquiry Report should be declassified. My full statement:
— Nancy Pelosi (@NancyPelosi) April 10, 2016
https://t.co/hKCDweHKQc
I have read all 28 pages of this report and there is no reason to keep this information from the American people. https://t.co/P8O3Y09Fz3
— Rep. Mike Coffman (@RepMikeCoffman) April 11, 2016
Americans deserve transparency. I agree that redacted portions of 9/11 Joint Inquiry Report should be declassified. https://t.co/FYxhmC5ye5
— Rep. Jim McGovern (@RepMcGovern) April 11, 2016
Many of Sunday night's viewers agreed:
@60Minutes @stevekroft This was a disturbing segment; our government hiding the truth from us once again. #911 #SaudiArabia
— Robert Martin (@BobbyM62) April 11, 2016
Why is this so difficult? Declassify and release the 28 pages. Americans deserve to know the truth about 9/11. @60minutes 🇺🇸
— Jessica James (@JessicaSJames) April 10, 2016
Much of the evidence in the 60 Minutes story has been buried in the public record since 2003, as Kroft reported. One viewer thought it was old news:
@60Minutes @stevekroft hasn't this been pretty much known for the last 15 years? not really news to anyone who's cared to look into it b4
— Luke Murphy (@lukethemanmurph) April 11, 2016
Another tweeter suggested a possible motive for keeping the "28 pages" classified:
@60Minutes what are we afraid of ? Saudi Arabia
— james white (@jwhite1955) April 10, 2016
The Royal Saudi Embassy in Washington, D.C. argues there is no truth to be found in the 60 Minutes story, only "myths and erroneous charges." The morning after Kroft's story aired, the Saudi Embassy issued a statement:
"The 9-11 Commission long ago put to rest these false accusations, which have caused fear of and cast doubt over Saudi Arabia," the statement reads.
This mirrors a 2004 statement made by the Saudi government after the release of the 9/11 Commission Report. The statement, signed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs at the time, claimed the 9/11 report "vindicated" the Saudi government.
Not so, said a 9/11 Commissioner on Sunday's 60 Minutes.
"It's not an exoneration," former U.S. Senator Bob Kerrey told Kroft. "We did not, with this report, exonerate the Saudis."
Watch the 60 Minute report, "28 Pages."