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CNN Live Sunday
FBI Investigates Saudi Money Trail
Aired November 24, 2002 - 17:02 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: Let's begin with the Saudi money trail. U.S. lawmakers still don't believe the Saudi government's explanation for money that eventually went to two 9/11 hijackers. The FBI is investigating donations sent out by the Saudi embassy. CNN's Frank Buckley joins us from the White House, where, Frank, we're hearing that administration officials are cautioning Congress not to jump to conclusions.
FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Carol. White House officials are cautioning that there is no direct evidence that suggests that Saudi government officials in any way directly contributed to those people who were involved in terrorist activities or -- on 9/11.
The president today did not comment on this subject. We saw him a couple of times as he went out, was going to and from church. But a senior White House official does say the Saudi government is cooperating with investigators. Still, congressional investigators want to know if the two hijackers involved in the Pentagon attacks received money from a Saudi princess. That's Haifa al-Faizal, she's the wife of the Saudi ambassador to the U.S.
Saudi officials strongly deny that she was supporting hijackers Khalid Almidhar or Nawaf Alhamzi, but they concede that she donated money to a person on a charity recipient list, and that woman gave money to two Saudi students in the U.S., who are believed to have provided funding to the two hijackers. The revelation is causing some in Congress to question the relationship between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOSEPH LIEBERMAN (D), CONNECTICUT: The Saudi/American relationship is at a crisis stage. They've been good allies. And they've depended on us to protect them and we've depended on them for military locations and oil. They're hesitating to promise that they'd let us use the military facilities we've built in Saudi Arabia if we have to go to war against Iraq. That's unacceptable.
SEN. RICHARD SHELBY (R), ALABAMA: I would like for them to be our ally, but you can't have it both ways. You can't finance terrorists, you can't finance charities that you have reason to believe that will finance terrorism around the world, aid and abet it, and say, oh, we're great friends of the U.S.
(END VIDEO CLIP) BUCKLEY: Now, this information comes in the context of Congress preparing a report that suggests that the FBI didn't aggressively pursue leads that would lead them to the Saudi government and its possible role in terrorism activities.
The FBI strongly denies that, but they won't go on the record saying this is an investigation that is still ongoing -- Carol.
LIN: Thank you very much, Frank Buckley, at the White House tonight.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired November 24, 2002 - 17:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's begin with the Saudi money trail. U.S. lawmakers still don't believe the Saudi government's explanation for money that eventually went to two 9/11 hijackers. The FBI is investigating donations sent out by the Saudi embassy. CNN's Frank Buckley joins us from the White House, where, Frank, we're hearing that administration officials are cautioning Congress not to jump to conclusions.
FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Carol. White House officials are cautioning that there is no direct evidence that suggests that Saudi government officials in any way directly contributed to those people who were involved in terrorist activities or -- on 9/11.
The president today did not comment on this subject. We saw him a couple of times as he went out, was going to and from church. But a senior White House official does say the Saudi government is cooperating with investigators. Still, congressional investigators want to know if the two hijackers involved in the Pentagon attacks received money from a Saudi princess. That's Haifa al-Faizal, she's the wife of the Saudi ambassador to the U.S.
Saudi officials strongly deny that she was supporting hijackers Khalid Almidhar or Nawaf Alhamzi, but they concede that she donated money to a person on a charity recipient list, and that woman gave money to two Saudi students in the U.S., who are believed to have provided funding to the two hijackers. The revelation is causing some in Congress to question the relationship between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOSEPH LIEBERMAN (D), CONNECTICUT: The Saudi/American relationship is at a crisis stage. They've been good allies. And they've depended on us to protect them and we've depended on them for military locations and oil. They're hesitating to promise that they'd let us use the military facilities we've built in Saudi Arabia if we have to go to war against Iraq. That's unacceptable.
SEN. RICHARD SHELBY (R), ALABAMA: I would like for them to be our ally, but you can't have it both ways. You can't finance terrorists, you can't finance charities that you have reason to believe that will finance terrorism around the world, aid and abet it, and say, oh, we're great friends of the U.S.
(END VIDEO CLIP) BUCKLEY: Now, this information comes in the context of Congress preparing a report that suggests that the FBI didn't aggressively pursue leads that would lead them to the Saudi government and its possible role in terrorism activities.
The FBI strongly denies that, but they won't go on the record saying this is an investigation that is still ongoing -- Carol.
LIN: Thank you very much, Frank Buckley, at the White House tonight.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
