South Florida Watchdog News Site Spearheads Longstanding Effort For Disclosure Of 9/11 Information

Dan Christensen, a former courts reporter for the Daily Business Review in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, witnessed the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks unfold live on television, along with millions of others around the world. Little did he know that these events, occurring a thousand miles away, would eventually become the most significant news story of his fifty-year career.

Christensen expresses his disappointment in major news outlets like The New York Times and The Washington Post for failing to give adequate coverage to this important local story. He believes that given the connection to the Saudi government and the 19 hijackers, including 15 Saudis, it is crucial for these leading newspapers to investigate further, instead of moving on from it.

The story, unraveling over two decades through a series of revelations and court proceedings, involves a support network associated with or part of the Saudi government aiding the 9/11 hijackers. Christensen emphasizes the role played by a lesser-known news startup in driving the investigation forward.

In 2011, authors Anthony Summers and Robbyn Swan approached Christensen with a tip about a Saudi family living near Sarasota who had contacts with three hijackers. Despite being unable to include this information in their book, Summers believed it should be investigated further. Christensen published an in-depth article, which garnered attention from The Miami Herald and gained significant local coverage.

The investigation also uncovered materials seized by London police after the arrest of Omar al-Bayoumi, including casing videos of Capitol Hill and other locations made in 1999. These materials documented Bayoumi’s assistance to hijackers Nawaf al-Hazmi and Khalid al-Mihdhar in San Diego from 2000 to 2001. Christensen faced legal battles with the FBI to obtain access to Operation Encore records, which were heavily censored at the time.

Florida Bulldog, a news organization with a small subscriber base but dedicated readership, played a significant role in unearthing new information about the ongoing investigation. Former Senator Bob Graham, who served on the 9/11 Commission, highlighted the importance of their findings.

Despite the lack of attention, this remains a local story with global implications and international intrigue. Christensen, not an expert in international affairs, finds it extraordinary that he, as a local reporter, has become deeply involved in covering this multifaceted issue.

Florida Bulldog, largely funded by contributions and supported by individuals like author Michael Connelly, enables Christensen to focus on this story. Without this setup, he acknowledges that he may have been pulled away to cover other beats, preventing him from giving it the attention it deserves.

Christensen’s motivation stems from his concern for 9/11 survivors and families who he believes are often marginalized and ignored by both the government and the media. He believes it is his responsibility to ensure their story is covered in a reasonable and fair manner.

While numerous pages of evidence have been produced, few media outlets have devoted the necessary attention to them. Christensen, however, has managed to derive numerous stories from these documents that shed new light on the case.

The final ruling on Saudi Arabia’s motion to dismiss the 9/11 families’ lawsuit is pending, and Christensen refrains from speculating on the outcome. However, he assures readers that Florida Bulldog will continue to cover the proceedings and promises more updates to come.