Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis met with the families of victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City this morning. Afterward, DeSantis called on President Biden to declassify the remaining intelligence documents in regard to the planning and financing of the September 11 attacks which took the lives of 2,977 Americans.
“I call on President Biden to publicly commit to declassifying the remaining Intelligence Community documents regarding the planning and financing of 9/11, consistent with protecting national security. While over the last three years some progress has been made, a selection of documents and answers remain unclear," said DeSantis in a written statement.
It was an honor to observe the 9/11 ceremony at Ground Zero today as a guest of families who lost loved ones.
Decades later, we as a nation still owe full transparency and accountability to the grieving families who lost loved ones on 9/11. Read my full statement on what we must… pic.twitter.com/DBXSiRCTDc
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) September 11, 2023
“Today, Casey and I had the honor of joining with families who still bear the scars of the 9/11 terror attacks to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of that dark day," wrote DeSantis. "We heard their heart-wrenching stories, the cherished memories of those they lost, and their strong commitment to never forgetting what happened on this hallowed ground twenty-two years ago. September 11, 2001, changed those families and our nation forever."
DeSantis pledged as President, he will demand federal agencies give a good reason for why material concerning the attacks has been withheld from the public.
"As President, I will demand from each agency that they provide a detailed justification for every remaining redaction, and decide, in the interests of transparency, whether the public interest outweighs any potential harm in disclosure before making declassification and public release decisions," wrote DeSantis. "I will end the federal government's decades-long abuse of the classification system and will strive to be the most transparent administration in U.S. history."
🔥HAPPENING NOW! Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis attend 9/11 memorial service at Ground Zero in New York Citypic.twitter.com/rEjSpFIbVB
— Chris Nelson 🇺🇸 🏝 (@ReOpenChris) September 11, 2023
After meeting with families of the victims, DeSantis said there have been too many empty promises from past Presidents. DeSantis released a statement demanding "full transparency and accountability" in regard to the attacks.
"And now decades later, we as a nation still owe full transparency and accountability to these grieving families. Yet too many politicians have broken past promises to them, and that is wholly unacceptable," said DeSantis.
Khalid Sheikh Mohammad, the mastermind of the attacks, remains a prisoner at the U.S. Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. DeSantis called on President Biden to reject any plea deal and called for the "harshest penalties" to be imposed on the perpetrators of the attack.
“The heinous acts of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his co-conspirators tore at America’s heart and fundamentally altered our nation’s trajectory. Any plea deal allowing the accused to avoid the harshest penalties and transparency is unconscionable given the loss inflicted by their terrorist acts," said DeSantis. "While the Biden Administration has allegedly rejected a considered plea deal over the near-term, pressure must remain so that any way forward includes public answers and maximum lawful punishment."
DeSantis said the perpetrators should not be allowed to avoid a public trial.
"Avoiding a public trial denies victims the justice they deserve and allows others to evade scrutiny. I urge the administration to serve justice and send an unequivocal message that such attacks on American lives will never go unanswered," said DeSantis.
DeSantis says he supports the Ensuring Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act.
“The Ensuring Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act will help realize its full intent so the families can get justice and answers," wrote DeSantis. “The pain of 9/11 endures for these families and all of us who remember that day, and its history must be taught for generations to come. Our work is not done until we have fully brought to light all the details surrounding the attacks, and those responsible are held accountable. I will not rest until both are fully achieved. We Must Never Forget.”
