Blumenthal Statement on Decision Instructing Saudi Arabia to Produce Witnesses in 9/11 Lawsuit

[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) released the following statement in response to a decision by a federal magistrate judge in New York instructing Saudi Arabia to produce witnesses – including members of the royal family – for depositions in a lawsuit brought by victims of 9/11 and their families. In 2016, Congress approved the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA), which allows victims of terrorism and their families to pursue civil lawsuits against foreign states that aid and abet terrorist attacks on U.S. soil.

“Families deserve these depositions and they should be done quickly. Most especially on this 19th 9/11 anniversary, Americans should unite in support of these families’ courageous quest for simple justice – American justice. They deserve full accountability from the Saudi government for any complicity in the 9/11 attacks that killed their loved ones and thousands of other innocent Americans. Our own federal intelligence authorities should release, to the fullest extent possible, documents sought by these families. The depositions will be a significant next step for these families in proving their case, but equally important, for deterring foreign governments from supporting, sponsoring, or financing future terrorist attacks.”

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