Investigative reporter Catherine Herridge says recently declassified FBI files may link two Saudi government employees to roles supporting the Sept. 11 hijackers, calling the material a potential "smoking gun." The records reportedly suggest an advance team arrived in the U.S. in 1998 to help with housing, identification and flight-school referrals. Herridge highlighted footage of a February 2000 San Diego welcome event involving Saudi employees and said families suing the kingdom could benefit from full disclosure. The Saudi government denies involvement.
Declassified FBI Files May Be a ‘Smoking Gun’ Linking Saudi Officials to 9/11, Journalist Says
Evidence linking Saudis to 9/11 attacks a ‘smoking gun’: Journalist
Investigative journalist Catherine Herridge says newly declassified FBI records may contain evidence connecting two Saudi government employees to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks — material she described as a potential "smoking gun." Herridge made the comments during an appearance on "Katie Pavlich Tonight," and said the documents could be crucial for families pursuing lawsuits against Saudi Arabia.
Newly Declassified Records
According to Herridge, the FBI files appear to show that two Saudi officials may have acted as an advance team, arriving in the United States months or even years before the attacks. The records reportedly document assistance that could have included arranging housing, helping secure driver's licenses and referring individuals to flight schools.
What the Files Seem To Show
"They may have been an advanced team for the 9/11 hijackers, arriving in the United States three years before the attacks in 1998, and then vetting these individuals in the U.S. to support the hijackers, so housing, driver's licenses, helping them identify flight schools," Herridge said.
Herridge also highlighted footage linked to the declassified materials: a February 2000 welcome event in San Diego that she says was hosted by a Saudi government employee and included another senior Saudi official. A screenshot from the footage reportedly shows Omar al-Bayoumi in front of the U.S. Capitol.
Families Seek Accountability
Victims' families who are suing the Saudi government have pushed for greater transparency and have long argued that previous U.S. administrations prioritized diplomatic relations with Riyadh over the families' interests. Herridge said the newly released files could help those families obtain answers and possible legal remedies.
Screenshot taken from a video of exhibit of Omar al-Bayoumi in front of the Capitol building. (Credit: Catherine Herridge)
"The bottom line is that successive administrations have put the relationship with the government of Saudi Arabia ahead of the interests of the 9/11 families," she told the program, arguing that the 9/11 Commission report may have minimized or omitted some evidence of Saudi employee links to the plot.
Official Responses and Context
The Saudi government has consistently denied any involvement in the Sept. 11 attacks. Lawyers for the families and independent investigators will likely scrutinize the newly disclosed materials to determine whether they substantiate a direct link.
While some records have been declassified, advocates continue to call on the White House to release any remaining documents that could clarify Saudi connections — noting that more than two decades have passed since the attacks.
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