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CNN Sunday Morning
White House Says Saudi Arabia Cooperating With FBI Investigation
Aired November 24, 2002 - 11:04 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: We check in now with CNN's Frank Buckley to see if the White House is saying anything about the Saudi controversy. Frank, the White House has been so far pretty quiet about this investigation.
FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And this morning, Carol, no official word from the president himself. We have caught a couple of glimpses of him this morning as he went in and out of church, and also went for a run this morning.
But a senior administration official is saying that the Saudi government is cooperating with the ongoing investigation. And sources are cautioning that there is no conclusive evidence that the Saudi government intentionally funded terror activities against the U.S.
But here is the question that is being investigated. Did the wife of the Saudi ambassador to the U.S., Princess Haifa Al-Faizal, sent money, somehow, to two of the hijackers who were involved in the terror attacks on September 11 and who were living in California in the weeks leading up to the terror incidents on September 11? These two particular men were involved in the Pentagon situation; that was flight 77. An inquiry by the House/Senate joint Intelligence Committee suggests that there is evidence that Khalid Almidhar and Nawaf Alhamzi did receive money from the Saudi government that came via two Saudi students who were in the U.S. But as you just reported, the -- the foreign policy adviser to the Saudi crown prince says that the princess here in the U.S. did not send money directly to the hijackers, but rather to someone on her charity recipient list -- Carol.
LIN: All right. Thank you very much, Frank Buckley, live at the White House. Quick question for you, Frank, what's going to happen with the homeland security bill?
BUCKLEY: Tomorrow, a major bill signing, political victory for the president. Getting passage of the homeland security bill. And it's possible that tomorrow we will hear from the president his choice to lead that agency. Sources tell us that the president's top choice would be Tom Ridge, who is the current homeland security director.
LIN: That's right. All right. Thank you very much. Frank Buckley.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Investigation>
Aired November 24, 2002 - 11:04 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: We check in now with CNN's Frank Buckley to see if the White House is saying anything about the Saudi controversy. Frank, the White House has been so far pretty quiet about this investigation.
FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And this morning, Carol, no official word from the president himself. We have caught a couple of glimpses of him this morning as he went in and out of church, and also went for a run this morning.
But a senior administration official is saying that the Saudi government is cooperating with the ongoing investigation. And sources are cautioning that there is no conclusive evidence that the Saudi government intentionally funded terror activities against the U.S.
But here is the question that is being investigated. Did the wife of the Saudi ambassador to the U.S., Princess Haifa Al-Faizal, sent money, somehow, to two of the hijackers who were involved in the terror attacks on September 11 and who were living in California in the weeks leading up to the terror incidents on September 11? These two particular men were involved in the Pentagon situation; that was flight 77. An inquiry by the House/Senate joint Intelligence Committee suggests that there is evidence that Khalid Almidhar and Nawaf Alhamzi did receive money from the Saudi government that came via two Saudi students who were in the U.S. But as you just reported, the -- the foreign policy adviser to the Saudi crown prince says that the princess here in the U.S. did not send money directly to the hijackers, but rather to someone on her charity recipient list -- Carol.
LIN: All right. Thank you very much, Frank Buckley, live at the White House. Quick question for you, Frank, what's going to happen with the homeland security bill?
BUCKLEY: Tomorrow, a major bill signing, political victory for the president. Getting passage of the homeland security bill. And it's possible that tomorrow we will hear from the president his choice to lead that agency. Sources tell us that the president's top choice would be Tom Ridge, who is the current homeland security director.
LIN: That's right. All right. Thank you very much. Frank Buckley.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Investigation>
