Saudi Arabia face appeals court in 9/11 families' lawsuit
NEW YORK CITY -- Officials from Saudi Arabia are sitting down before a federal appeals court in Manhattan as families of Sept. 11 victims continue their effort to hold the kingdom accountable for alleged involvement in the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
A panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments after a federal judge in August denied Saudi Arabia's motion to dismiss the lawsuit. Victims' families have also filed a cross-appeal seeking to expand the scope of evidence that can be considered in the case.
At the center of the dispute is Omar al-Bayoumi, a Saudi national whom the families' attorneys allege provided financial and logistical support to two of the Sept. 11 hijackers. Al-Bayoumi left the United States before the attacks.
Attorneys representing the families, including the coalition 9/11 Justice, are seeking additional evidence they believe could shed light on potential Saudi involvement, including al-Bayoumi's phone records. They argue the records could provide insight into communications and events leading up to the attacks.
The families have also pointed to video that emerged years later showing al-Bayoumi at the U.S. Capitol in 1999. Attorneys for the victims contend the footage suggests he was "casing" the building, an allegation that remains disputed.
Fifteen of the 19 hijackers were Saudi nationals, but the kingdom has consistently denied any role in planning or supporting the attacks.
During this year's Sept. 11 commemorations, several family members publicly questioned why federal authorities have not pursued Saudi Arabia more aggressively over its alleged role in the attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people.
