US could soon release 28 pages of 9/11 report

WASHINGTON (AA) – The Obama administration may soon release the still classified 28 pages of the 9/11 commission’s report, the Hill reported Thursday.

Many have speculated that the pages implicate members of the Saudi government in the deadliest terror attack on American soil. But no definitive proof has emerged linking Saudi officials to al-Qaeda.

Congress is expected to receive a redacted copy of the 28 pages as early as Thursday, the Hill reported, citing House Intelligence Committee ranking member Adam Schiff. That would be followed by a public release Friday.

It's not yet clear, however, who will make the release.

“I think the administration probably concurs that it’s a congressional work product, it ought to be released by Congress,” Schiff said, but, “ultimately the speaker/leader will make the decision on whether they release it or the committees do.”

Former Secretary of the Navy and commission member John Lehman said he believes Saudi officials supported the 19 hijackers who crashed planes into the World Trade Center and Pentagon.

"There was an awful lot of participation by Saudi individuals in supporting the hijackers, and some of those people worked in the Saudi government,” he said.

Fifteen of the 19 hijackers hailed from Saudi Arabia.

Former Sen. Bob Graham who co-chaired the congressional inquiry previously said he believes substantial support for the hijackers came from Saudi Arabia, including the government.

The White House was previously expected to announce by June whether it would declassify the 28 pages.