{
  "id": 7409446,
  "title": "Blanche vows to release more 9/11 docs: \"We're not protecting people\"",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/blanche-vows-to-release-more-9-11-docs-were-not-protecting-people",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-14T22:16:35.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "CBS News",
    "slug": "cbs-news",
    "url": "https://www.cbsnews.com/news/todd-blanche-911-documents/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Kansas City, Missouri — Attorney General Todd Blanche insisted that the federal government will continue releasing records concerning the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, rejecting allegations that withheld documents are being kept secret to protect any nation. Blanche told CBS News in an exclusive interview, \"We are not protecting people.\" The attorney general's comments came after heightened pressure from 9/11 family members, some of whom directly appealed to the Trump administration during a commemoration marking the 25th anniversary of the Ground Zero attacks. These family members demanded the release of unredacted documents, accusing successive administrations of withholding evidence related to Saudi Arabia. Thousands of 9/11 family members have been involved in a prolonged legal battle against Saudi Arabia, alleging potential support for the hijackers. Last year, a \"60 Minutes\" report uncovered fresh evidence about Omar al-Bayoumi, who met two hijackers and assisted them in obtaining housing in San Diego. Al-Bayoumi claimed it was a coincidence, but the families believe he had deeper ties to them and the Saudi government. Following their lawsuit, documents such as a video of al-Bayoumi filming the U.S. Capitol, an airplane sketch, and a math formula were seized from his U.K. apartment and handed over to the FBI in 2001. FBI investigators have long suspected the Capitol may have been the intended target of Flight 93, which crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers overpowered the hijackers. When asked about these demands on Sunday, President Trump stated he would review the matter upon his return to Washington. Blanche said additional records would be made public, though he provided no timeline. He emphasized that some classified documents should not be released, stating, \"Those are the ones that we're going to release.\" He directly addressed the families seeking answers, promising more records to come and reaffirming his commitment to delivering to them. Terry Strada, chair of Families United, whose husband Tom died in the North Tower on 9/11, pointed fingers at past administrations for prioritizing the protection of the Saudis over the families' desire for information. Strada called on Vice President JD Vance to convey the families' message to Washington and criticized the Saudi government's handling of the issue over the past 25 years as \"one betrayal after another.\" During his turn at the microphone, Lisa Marie Terry's nephew pleaded with President Trump to be their last hope. Over two decades, numerous questions have arisen regarding the assistance provided to two of the hijackers after their arrival in California, and whether individuals connected to the Saudi government played a role in their travel. Fifteen of the 19 hijackers on September 11 were Saudi nationals, though Saudi Arabia has consistently denied any direct involvement in the attacks. In 2004, the 9/11 Commission found no evidence of direct government funding to al Qaeda, but acknowledged that it could not entirely rule out the possibility that charities with Saudi government sponsorship may have financed the group. In August 2025, U.S. District Judge George B. Daniels denied Saudi Arabia's motion to dismiss the lawsuit, finding that the families presented sufficient evidence for the case to proceed. This evidence included details about Saudi nationals Omar al-Bayoumi and Fahad al-Thumairy, as well as aid offered to hijackers Nawaf al-Hazmi and Khalid al-Mihdhar after their arrival in California in January 2000. On Friday, the CIA released a fresh batch of 9/11-related intelligence, declassifying 71 President's Daily Brief products spanning from years before the attacks to the day after. The agency called it the largest single release of declassified CIA presidential briefing material related to 9/11, comprising varying assessments of Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda, along with warnings about potential attacks. However, these recently released documents are distinct from the records at the heart of the families' demands concerning possible Saudi connections. Blanche acknowledged that some records remain classified for legitimate national security reasons but dismissed the notion that such materials should be withheld.",
  "summary": "Attorney General Todd Blanche says the government is not withholding documents to protect another country, days after 9/11 families publicly appealed to the Trump administration for more information to be released.",
  "key_points": [
    "Attorney General Blanche vows to release more 9/11 documents",
    "Blanche rejects allegations of protecting Saudi Arabia",
    "President Trump to review matter after returning to Washington"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}