A deal has been reached between the 9/11 Commission and the White House over the commission’s demand to review top-secret documents related to the terrorist attacks. As reported here, the Republican chairman of the commission blasted the White House last month for not cooperating. The deal, however, doesn’t have the support of families who lost loved ones or all the panels’ members.
The Family Steering Committee, a group of victims' relatives who are monitoring the work of the independent commission, criticized the agreement announced late Wednesday. Under the deal, only some of the 10 commissioners will be allowed to examine classified intelligence documents, and their notes will be subject to White House review."All 10 commissioners should have full, unfettered and unrestricted access to all evidence," the group said in a statement Thursday. It urged the public release of "the full, official, and final written agreement." (full story)
Two commissioners, former Indiana Rep. Tim Roemer and former Georgia Sen. Max Cleland, criticized the deal after it was announced, saying it places unwarranted restrictions on the panel's work. The commission discussed issuing a subpoena to the White House, although that could have led to a legal battle had the Bush administration claimed executive privilege. (full story)
