Appeals court hears arguments in NYC for lawsuit accusing Saudi Arabia of involvement in 9/11
An appeals court heard arguments Wednesday about whether to dismiss a civil lawsuit against the kingdom of Saudi Arabia filed by families of 9/11 victims or let it proceed to trial.
The families say Saudi Arabia aided the 9/11 hijackers. Attorneys for Saudi Arabia deny that.
The hearing comes weeks after the nation marked 25 years since the deadly attacks.
Family members of victims packed a courtroom and spilled into an overflow room.
"Every single one of us is sick and tired of coming here and having to miss birthdays, anniversaries, special events, being with family, but we have to be in Washington. We have to be in New York City. We have to be fighting the Saudi government, who refuses to accept accountability," said Brett Eagleson, president of 9/11 Justice.
The suit was temporarily dismissed in 2015, but that decision was overturned by a federal appeals court.
In August 2025, a judge denied Saudi Arabia's motion to dismiss the filing, citing "reasonable evidence" that officials were involved in the terror attacks.
The Saudi Arabian government has appealed. They have consistently denied any involvement in the attacks.
"Saudi Arabia has spent years trying to avoid answering for what its own agents did in the lead-up to 9/11," Eagleson said. "A federal judge has already reviewed the evidence and ruled that this case belongs in an American courtroom. We are asking the Second Circuit to uphold that decision so the families who have waited a quarter of a century can finally have their day in court."
Wednesday, an appeals court listened as an attorney for the families brought up Omar al-Bayoumi. The FBI says he was an operative of the Saudi intelligence service. He helped find two of the hijackers housing in California, but he claims he met them by chance.
The notebook investigators found in his home showing a sketch of a plane with notes and numbers was also mentioned.
An attorney for the Saudi government maintained allegations of al-Bayoumi's dangerous conduct are unsupported, that aiding Al-Qaeda – their enemy – goes against Saudi Arabia's core interest, and argued the kingdom is protected by foreign sovereign immunity.
The families' attorney argued the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) passed in 2016 narrows that scope, allowing civil suits against foreign governments if accused of providing material support for acts of international terrorism on U.S. soil.
"We'll let the courts decide, but God knows what they did," one person said.
The families again renewed their plea to the Trump administration.
"For the president to do the right thing and get involved in this case," said Terry Strada, with 9/11 Families United.
"I voted for you, but you're not doing enough," another person said.
A White House assistant press secretary sent CBS News New York the following statement: "President Trump is leading the most transparent administration in history, which is why he authorized the declassification and release of hundreds of pages of documents related to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. The President will always pay tribute to the American heroes we lost in the tragic September 11th attacks, their beautiful family members, and to the acts of heroism that defined that fateful day when the unbreakable spirit of the American people prevailed."
The attorney for the kingdom of Saudi Arabia declined to comment after court.
The panel of three judges will issue a ruling in writing at a later date.
