Clinton and Sanders Back Saudi-9/11 Bill, But Who Has Read 'Missing 28 Pages'?
In supporting Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, both Democratic candidates are breaking with President Barack Obama
Ahead of the New York presidential primary, both Democratic candidates are breaking with the Obama administration to declare their support for a bill that would allow Americans to sue the government of Saudi Arabia for any role it may have played in the 9/11 terror attacks.
Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton both issued statements Sunday night expressing their support for the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, authored by Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and co-sponsored by 22 bipartisan lawmakers. The legislation would enable victims of 9/11 and other attacks on U.S. soil to sue sovereign nations that supply material or other support for such acts of violence.
Sanders also went a step further, urging the Obama administration to "declassify the 28-page conclusion of the 9/11 Commission Report on the potential sources of foreign support received by the hijackers."
Though he has access to the pages, Sanders told "CBS This Morning" on Monday that he hasn't yet read them--nor will he, until they are publicly released.
"The difficulty is," he explained, "you see then, if you read them, then you're gonna ask me a question, you're gonna say, 'You read them, what's in them?' And now I can tell you honestly I have not."
When pressed on Monday by a NBC reporter whether she has read the pages, former Secretary of State Clinton said she wouldn't comment.
The White House, meanwhile, signaled on Monday that President Barack Obama would veto the legislation should it come to his desk. "Given the long list of concerns I have expressed...it's difficult to imagine a scenario in which the president would sign the bill as it's currently drafted," said press secretary Josh Earnest at a briefing.
The New York Times reported over the weekend that Saudi officials have "told the Obama administration and members of Congress that it will sell off hundreds of billions of dollars' worth of American assets held by the kingdom" should Congress pass the bill.
What's more, The Hill notes that "[t]he fierce debate over the legislation has bubbled up at a precarious time for Obama, who is set to land in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to meet with King Salman."
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
Ahead of the New York presidential primary, both Democratic candidates are breaking with the Obama administration to declare their support for a bill that would allow Americans to sue the government of Saudi Arabia for any role it may have played in the 9/11 terror attacks.
Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton both issued statements Sunday night expressing their support for the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, authored by Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and co-sponsored by 22 bipartisan lawmakers. The legislation would enable victims of 9/11 and other attacks on U.S. soil to sue sovereign nations that supply material or other support for such acts of violence.
Sanders also went a step further, urging the Obama administration to "declassify the 28-page conclusion of the 9/11 Commission Report on the potential sources of foreign support received by the hijackers."
Though he has access to the pages, Sanders told "CBS This Morning" on Monday that he hasn't yet read them--nor will he, until they are publicly released.
"The difficulty is," he explained, "you see then, if you read them, then you're gonna ask me a question, you're gonna say, 'You read them, what's in them?' And now I can tell you honestly I have not."
When pressed on Monday by a NBC reporter whether she has read the pages, former Secretary of State Clinton said she wouldn't comment.
The White House, meanwhile, signaled on Monday that President Barack Obama would veto the legislation should it come to his desk. "Given the long list of concerns I have expressed...it's difficult to imagine a scenario in which the president would sign the bill as it's currently drafted," said press secretary Josh Earnest at a briefing.
The New York Times reported over the weekend that Saudi officials have "told the Obama administration and members of Congress that it will sell off hundreds of billions of dollars' worth of American assets held by the kingdom" should Congress pass the bill.
What's more, The Hill notes that "[t]he fierce debate over the legislation has bubbled up at a precarious time for Obama, who is set to land in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to meet with King Salman."
Ahead of the New York presidential primary, both Democratic candidates are breaking with the Obama administration to declare their support for a bill that would allow Americans to sue the government of Saudi Arabia for any role it may have played in the 9/11 terror attacks.
Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton both issued statements Sunday night expressing their support for the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, authored by Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and co-sponsored by 22 bipartisan lawmakers. The legislation would enable victims of 9/11 and other attacks on U.S. soil to sue sovereign nations that supply material or other support for such acts of violence.
Sanders also went a step further, urging the Obama administration to "declassify the 28-page conclusion of the 9/11 Commission Report on the potential sources of foreign support received by the hijackers."
Though he has access to the pages, Sanders told "CBS This Morning" on Monday that he hasn't yet read them--nor will he, until they are publicly released.
"The difficulty is," he explained, "you see then, if you read them, then you're gonna ask me a question, you're gonna say, 'You read them, what's in them?' And now I can tell you honestly I have not."
When pressed on Monday by a NBC reporter whether she has read the pages, former Secretary of State Clinton said she wouldn't comment.
The White House, meanwhile, signaled on Monday that President Barack Obama would veto the legislation should it come to his desk. "Given the long list of concerns I have expressed...it's difficult to imagine a scenario in which the president would sign the bill as it's currently drafted," said press secretary Josh Earnest at a briefing.
The New York Times reported over the weekend that Saudi officials have "told the Obama administration and members of Congress that it will sell off hundreds of billions of dollars' worth of American assets held by the kingdom" should Congress pass the bill.
What's more, The Hill notes that "[t]he fierce debate over the legislation has bubbled up at a precarious time for Obama, who is set to land in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to meet with King Salman."