Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. declared on Friday that he would open government files on the 9/11 terrorist attacks if elected, aiming to increase transparency and address ongoing speculation about the event. His statement followed a “60 Minutes” segment that rekindled discussions about potential foreknowledge by the Saudi Arabian government.
Kennedy, speaking during a campaign stop in West Hollywood, California, vowed not to take sides on 9/11 conspiracy theories but emphasized the need for transparency. “My take on 9/11: It’s hard to tell what is a conspiracy theory and what isn’t. But conspiracy theories flourish when the government routinely lies to the public,” Kennedy shared on X. “As president, I won’t take sides on 9/11 or any of the other debates. But I can promise that I will open the files and usher in a new era of transparency.”
The segment on CBS highlighted a video recently unsealed in a federal court case involving the families of 9/11 victims suing the Saudi government. The footage shows Omar al-Bayoumi, who the FBI identified as a suspected Saudi intelligence agent connected to two of the 9/11 hijackers, standing outside the Capitol in 1999 and discussing a “plan.” According to the FBI, the video was recorded around the time the 9/11 attack targets were being determined.
Families involved in the lawsuit have urged current and former presidents to address the video’s implications. Kennedy, addressing the broader issue of governmental secrecy, argued that increased transparency is essential to rebuild public trust. “Speculation about what our government may be covering up is rife outside the mainstream of our political culture,” Kennedy noted. “Trust in government is at an all-time low. The way to restore that trust is through honesty and transparency.”
Kennedy’s commitment to opening the 9/11 files highlights his campaign’s focus on transparency and accountability, resonating with voters who are disillusioned with government secrecy.
