The paper trail that 9/11 families want unlocked points straight at names U.S. investigators flagged two decades ago—and they believe it could finally answer who helped the first hijackers on U.S. soil.
Story Snapshot
- Families are pressing for more records tied to suspected Saudi-linked helpers named in the once-secret “28 pages.”
- The declassified section described contacts, money, and assistance around two early hijackers in California.
- Saudi officials deny any role and say more declassification will clear the Kingdom.
- Recent court rulings and reporting show new evidence is still surfacing through litigation.
What the 28 Pages Actually Said
Congress released the 28 pages in 2016 after 13 years under seal. The text described contacts between several hijackers and people connected to Saudi government circles, with detail around Omar al-Bayoumi and Fahad al-Thumairy. It did not claim the Saudi state ordered the attacks. It did lay out leads on money, housing help, and meetings that raised alarms for investigators and now drive the families’ push for full disclosure.
Reporters who reviewed the release stressed what was on the page and what was not. The pages traced possible operational support and suspicious links, but they were not the final word. They were an early map of leads, not a verdict. That matters because families want all the underlying case files that sit behind those leads—phone records, payroll data, and agent notes—to show how far the dots actually connect.
Why Bayoumi and Thumairy Still Matter
The families point to evidence that Bayoumi helped the first two hijackers who landed in California in January 2000. Coverage of the 28 pages and related files described rent help, local guidance, and ties to a Saudi-linked circle in San Diego. Separate accounts cite phone logs and meetings with Thumairy, then a Los Angeles-based cleric tied to the Saudi consulate. Advocates say these contacts look like a support network, not chance favors for strangers.
The call now is simple: release the rest. Families want the full Federal Bureau of Investigation and Central Intelligence Agency files on Bayoumi, Thumairy, and any related charities or embassy channels. They argue the government has enough to let sunlight in without risking sources and methods from a quarter-century ago. Recent declassifications and court orders suggest judges see relevance in this material—and are willing to let a jury weigh it.
Saudi Arabia’s Firm Denial
Saudi officials say there is no proof the government or its officials had any role, any foreknowledge, or any plan that touched the attacks. The embassy in Washington has backed full declassification, saying it would end baseless claims and confirm what past reviews found. That stance is clear and categorical. It forces the question back onto the U.S. record: if the Kingdom welcomes sunlight, why not put every file on the table and settle it?
American conservative values stress truth, accountability, and the rule of law. Those values cut one way here: release the records, let the facts speak, and stop hiding the ball. If the evidence clears Saudi officials, the public can accept it. If the evidence shows deliberate assistance by individuals tied to state payrolls, that belongs in open court and on the record. Hard truths do not get softer with age.
What New Litigation Has Added
Civil suits by victims’ families have pried loose evidence that did not reach the public years ago. Judges have allowed the case to proceed and have admitted material that families say shows planning help and surveillance-like behavior from Bayoumi’s circle. Reporters describe a growing evidentiary stack, including videos, notes, and financial lines that a jury can test. Discovery, depositions, and subpoenas are now doing what politics stalled.
9/11 families to seek release of documents they say include Saudi Arabia's link to attack – ABC News via @ABC – https://t.co/XTPvfY0pFF
— Miss62 (@mymom07) October 7, 2026
None of this replaces a clear national declassification policy. Court fights are slow and uneven. Smart policy would direct relevant agencies to finish a line-by-line review and release all documents that bear on Bayoumi, Thumairy, and any consular or charitable conduits linked in the 28 pages. Americans paid for these investigations. They should see the work product unless a live source is at risk. That is common sense, not partisanship.
Sources:
cbc.ca, politico.com, propublica.org, spa.gov.sa
