Image: Wikimedia Commons (Ground Zero, DHS Photo by Tia Dufour)Almost three weeks ago, President Donald Trump announced on September 13, 2026, that he would consider a request from families of 9/11 victims to declassify and release further records concerning potential connections between Saudi Arabia and the attacks.This acknowledgment of the families’ plea reflects a growing demand for transparency regarding the events of that tragic day.In light of this development, The Gateway Pundit reached out to Raymond Orzel, a financial investigator known for his expertise in international terrorist groups. Orzel is noted for his role as the inaugural director and executive co-chair of the Terrorist Financing Targeting Center (TFTC) at the U.S. Department of the Treasury.He highlighted that since the September 11, 2001, attacks, federal authorities have intermittently released a significant volume of records to the public. However, he noted that these records are “scattered across the National Archives, FBI, CIA, courts, and FOIA records.”This disarray complicates efforts to piece together a comprehensive understanding of the events surrounding 9/11. The documents include the 9/11 Commission records, FAA and aviation documentation, FBI investigative files, materials from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) related to flight investigations, investigative records linked to Saudi entities, additional memoranda from 9/11 Commission interviews, presidential and White House records, court documents, evidence from lawsuits, and more.Despite the wealth of information available, Orzel pointed out that several crucial documents remain undisclosed. These include various intelligence files, FBI operational files related to the “PENTTBOM” investigation, grand jury materials, and personally identifiable information (PII), along with numerous other sources and methods that warrant examination.The implications of releasing these records are significant. “Releasing some of these records could impact ongoing litigation or national security, which in turn, could also affect strategic relationships,” he cautioned. Yet, he finds it “illogical” that a large portion of the 9/11 Commission collection remains classified or is still undergoing processing.Orzel argues that certain details should be made public, particularly the fact that while two of the terrorists were already on watch lists before 9/11, that information alone was insufficient to prevent them from boarding the planes.“The records related to law enforcement and intelligence agencies who worked to track and determine how al-Qaeda and other terrorist organizations raised funds and moved money to support their operation should also be released,” according to the financial investigator. “Most would be surprised to learn of the role IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agents played in following the money trail of the 9/11 hijackers and Al-Qaeda.”Shockingly, the U.S. Customs Service (USCS) Office of Intelligence was also able to identify the likely terrorist hijackers. Orzel stated that within just 45 minutes of the attacks, USCS forwarded the passenger lists, which included the names of the victims and the 19 likely hijackers, to the FBI and the intelligence community. He contends that these records should also be released to further clarify the circumstances surrounding the attacks.“After 25-years,” Orzel argued, “a lot more can be learned about 9/11 but only if the records are made available for us all to draw our respective conclusions. Isn’t that what transparency is all about?” As President Trump considers the declassification of more records, Orzel’s call for openness resonates with the ongoing quest for answers and accountability regarding one of the most pivotal events in modern history.Understanding the full scope of the events that changed the course of history and ensures that such a tragedy is, indeed, never forgotten. The post At the Request of Families, Trump Weighs Declassification of 9/11 Records Amid Growing Calls for Transparency appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.