FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 25, 2002

SCHUMER TO PRESIDENT: DROP PLAN TO BLOCK 9/11 FAMILIES FROM SUING SAUDIS

Schumer and Families: To appease Saudis and not allow justice for families against terrorists would be unconscionable

Bush Administration considering blocking private lawsuit brought by families of 9/11 victims against several Saudi individuals and Islamic groups

US Senator Chuck Schumer and families of 9/11 victims today urged the White House to stay out of a private lawsuit brought by the families against members of the Saudi royal family for financially supporting the Al Qaeda terrorist network. The lawsuit was brought by nearly 3000 family members seeking $1 trillion in damages and charges a number of Saudi banks and Islamic charity groups with financing Osama bin Laden and his deadly attacks on the World Trade Center. The Bush Administration has considered blocking the lawsuit because they do not want to damage relations between the United States and Saudi Arabia. In a letter to the President, Schumer renounced the idea of blocking the lawsuit as unconscionable.

"There are two issues at play here," Schumer said. "First, the cowards who tried to knock New York down on September 11 can run, but they can't hide. Every single one of these monsters and those who nurtured and coddled them must and will be brought to justice. Second, our right to pursue justice is one of America's oldest and most treasured ideals. For the federal government to step in and block the victims' families from pursuing full compensation for their suffering is appalling, unpardonable, and frankly it boggles the mind."

The White House has been lobbied by senior Saudi officials who have complained that the lawsuit against the Saudi banks and businesses would damage relations between the US and Saudi Arabia. To protect themselves against the suit, Saudi investors recently removed billions of dollars from their American accounts out of concern about potential liabilities. To counteract this, Schumer urged the White House to investigate freezing the American assets of the defendants to ensure that the grieving families can secure redress for their suffering.

"Rather than seeking to delay or dismiss legal action against these defendants, the federal government should examine every administrative means at its disposal to discover how it can aid these families in their lawsuit," Schumer wrote in his letter to the President. "It is imperative that the United States act quickly to freeze these accounts and do nothing to block the suit from moving forward."

The lawsuit seeks damages from members of the Saudi royal family, Saudi banks and Saudi corporations, who have extensive financial holdings in the US. Among the defendants are two prominent members of the Saudi royal family, Prince Sultan bin Abdelaziz al-Saud, the defense minister, and Prince Turki bin Faisal, Saudi ambassador to Britain. The suit alleges that Prince Sultan "publicly supported and funded several Islamic charities that were sponsoring Osama bin Laden" and that Prince Turki negotiated a deal in which Al Qaeda agreed to end efforts to subvert the Saudi monarchy in exchange for a Saudi promise not to extradite terrorist leaders.

Schumer said that were the federal government to intervene in the lawsuit, it could unduly prejudice the ability of the victims to seek civil damages from the organizations and individuals accused of supporting the terrorist network.

"I understand the desire to get along with our friends in the international community," he said, "but if the Saudi groups and businesses being sued in any way supported or contributed to the terrorist attacks of 9/11, then guess what – they are not our friends. Let the victims pursue their right to compensation, and let the defendants have their day in court. Our justice system is the best in the world – if we don't stand in the way of it."

The Senator was joined at the news conference by Bill Doyle, Joan Molinaro, Frank Dominguez and other family members of victims lost in the horror of the World Trade Center attacks as well as Guy Molinari, former Staten Island Borough President, and John D'Amato, two of their lawyers.

For a copy of Schumer's letter to President Bush click here.

####