9/11 Families Demand Saudi Accountability as Lawsuit Enters Critical Phase

Caspian Bellingham Nov 20 0

For over two decades, the families of nearly 3,000 Americans killed on September 11, 2001New York City have waited for answers. Now, after years of legal battles, hidden documents, and diplomatic silence, they’re standing in federal courtrooms — not just as mourners, but as witnesses to a truth they say has been buried too long.

The Lawsuit That Won’t Die

The civil lawsuit brought by 9/11 Families United, led by National Chair Terry Strada, accuses the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of providing material support to al Qaeda in the years leading up to the attacks. The evidence, compiled over 23 years, includes financial trails, communications between Saudi officials and suspected extremists, and testimony from former intelligence officers. Strada, whose husband Tom Strada died working in the North Tower of the World Trade Center, says the paper trail is undeniable: "This was an historic affirmation that the 9/11 families' evidence... points to real and troubling connections between Saudi government officials, imams, state-run institutions and the 19 Islamist hijackers." Last year, in a packed courtroom at the Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse at 40 Foley Square in Manhattan, Judge George Daniels presided over oral arguments on Saudi Arabia’s latest motion to dismiss. Hundreds of family members filled every seat. A thousand more joined by phone. The air was thick with grief — and resolve. "We’re not asking for war," Strada told reporters afterward. "We’re asking for honesty."

Why Saudi Arabia Keeps Fighting

The Kingdom has filed dismissal motions time and again — each one a legal delay, each one a blow to families hoping for closure. Their legal team argues sovereign immunity, claiming foreign governments can’t be sued in U.S. courts. But the families’ lawyers counter that the 2016 Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) explicitly removed that immunity in cases involving acts of terrorism on U.S. soil. That law, passed over presidential veto, was a landmark victory for the families — and a political lightning rod. Still, diplomatic pressure has mounted. U.S. officials, eager to maintain strategic ties with Saudi Arabia — especially around oil, regional security, and the Iran standoff — have quietly urged the families to back off. The result? A chilling silence from Washington. No public statements from the White House. No pressure on Riyadh. Just ongoing negotiations that treat the lawsuit like an inconvenient footnote.

What the Evidence Shows

Court filings detail how Saudi nationals — including diplomats and religious figures — funneled money to al Qaeda operatives in the U.S. before 9/11. Some of the hijackers received housing, transportation, and even spiritual guidance from individuals linked to Saudi-funded mosques and charities. One FBI informant testified that Saudi consular officials in Los Angeles helped two hijackers relocate after they were flagged for suspicious behavior. Another document shows a Saudi national transferred $100,000 to Mohamed Atta, the lead hijacker, through a U.S. bank account just weeks before the attacks. These aren’t conspiracy theories. They’re exhibits. And they’ve been sitting in federal court files since 2016 — largely ignored by mainstream media, but never erased.

"Justice Must Not Be Sacrificed on the Altar of Political Convenience"

Strada’s words echo in every family meeting, every memorial service, every courtroom hallway. "Any new agreement with the Kingdom must first acknowledge the ongoing litigation," she insists. "It must ensure that justice for nearly 3,000 murdered Americans is not sacrificed on the altar of political convenience." That phrase — "altar of political convenience" — has become a rallying cry. It’s not just about money or punishment. It’s about integrity. Can the U.S. claim to stand for truth and justice when its closest allies in the Middle East are shielded from accountability for aiding the deadliest attack on American soil? The answer, Strada says, is painfully clear: No.

What’s Next?

Judge Daniels has not yet ruled on the dismissal motion. Legal experts say the timing could be critical. If the case proceeds to trial, it would be the first time a foreign government is forced to answer under oath about its role in 9/11. Discovery could unseal thousands more documents — some believed to be classified. The families are preparing for a long haul. Some are now in their 70s. A few have passed away without seeing justice. Meanwhile, Congress is quietly drafting legislation to further strengthen JASTA, possibly allowing families to seize Saudi state assets if a judgment is won. That move would ignite a diplomatic firestorm.

The Human Cost Behind the Legal Battle

Tom Strada was a 42-year-old financial analyst who worked on the 97th floor of the North Tower. He called his wife Terry at 8:51 a.m. on September 11, 2001 — just before the plane hit. He told her he was safe, that he was going to help others evacuate. He never made it out. Terry Strada didn’t become a lawyer. She didn’t want to be a public figure. But grief doesn’t wait for convenience. And when the government won’t speak, the families have no choice but to raise their voices — louder, longer, and with more clarity than ever before.