It was one of his campaign promises. Joe Biden, the President of the United States signed a decree on Friday, September 3, for a declassification of documents from the investigation into the attacks of September 11, 2001. This decree “Orders the Department of Justice and all relevant agencies to oversee declassification review of documents related to 9/11 investigations”, according to a White House press release. Minister of Justice to publish declassified documents “Over the next six months”.
Families of 9/11 victims have launched a legal battle against Saudi Arabia and other states they accuse of complicity. During these proceedings, successive American governments have invoked state secrecy in order not to publish certain documents.
Anger of some families of victims
The subject is sensitive, at a time when the United States is preparing to commemorate the twenty years of the attacks on the twin towers of the World Trade Center and against the Pentagon, including a ceremony in New York which Joe Biden is to attend.
At the beginning of August, families of victims, survivors of the attacks and members of rescue teams had published a letter making it known that the Democratic president would not be the “Welcome” at the ceremony if he does not “Did not keep his promise”. The letter calls for the publication of all documents revealing, according to the signatories, Saudi Arabia’s involvement in the attacks.