Families of those killed in the Sept. 11 attacks urged a federal appeals court to let their lawsuit against Saudi Arabia proceed and sought access to records they say may shed light on alleged assistance to the hijackers.
A three-judge panel of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York heard arguments for about 90 minutes on Wednesday. The judges focused on jurisdiction and sovereign immunity rather than the merits of the allegations. They did not say when they would rule. Lawyers do not expect a decision before early 2027.
If the appeals court allows the case to proceed, a trial could begin as soon as next year. Families and survivors allege that Saudi officials assisted at least two of the hijackers and supported a network linked to al-Qaeda. Saudi Arabia denies involvement in the attacks and says it is immune from the civil lawsuit.
Terry Strada, whose husband Tom was killed on Sept. 11, said the judges’ questions to Saudi lawyers encouraged the plaintiffs. Brett Eagleson, who lost his father, urged the court to give families their day in court. The judges took the matter under advisement.
In evidence released during earlier stages of the lawsuit, families have focused on Omar al-Bayoumi, a Saudi national who lived in California. They allege he helped two hijackers find housing and open a bank account. Those allegations have not been a finding that the Saudi government was involved.
The hearing came weeks after the 25th anniversary of the attacks. President Donald Trump attended a commemoration at the Pentagon but not the ceremony in New York. The White House said the administration had declassified hundreds of pages of records related to the attacks and was continuing to identify documents responsive to families’ requests.