Former Congressman Curt Weldonâs explosive interview with Tucker Carlson has reignited a fierce debate over the transparency and accuracy of the 9/11 Commission Report, thrusting unresolved questions about the September 11, 2001 attacks back into the national spotlight.
Weldonâs Claims and the Fallout
Weldon, a Republican from Pennsylvania who served two decades in Congress and was poised to chair the House Armed Services Committee, has long been a prominent skeptic of the official 9/11 narrative. In his recent appearance with Carlson, Weldon repeated his assertion that the 9/11 Commission Report failed to tell the full story and alleged that a government cover-up concealed key facts from the American public. Weldon claims to possess personal evidence supporting these allegations and insists that many senior officials who were in Washington during the attacks share his doubts.
The former congressman recounted that after publicly questioning the 9/11 report, he faced severe retaliation. He alleges that the Bush administration orchestrated an FBI raid on his daughterâs home, which he describes as an attempt to intimidate him and derail his political career. Weldon maintains that this campaign of retribution effectively forced him out of Congress at the peak of his influence.
Unanswered Questions and Public Debate
Weldonâs renewed criticism has sparked widespread discussion online and in the media. Central to the debate are persistent questions about:
- The collapse of three buildings on September 11, particularly World Trade Center Building 7, which was not directly hit by a plane but fell later in the dayâa detail Weldon and others claim was insufficiently addressed in the Commissionâs findings.
- The handling and release of video evidence from the Pentagon attack. While the Department of Defense eventually released security camera footage of American Airlines Flight 77 crashing into the Pentagon, critics argue that the delay and limited footage fueled conspiracy theories and public mistrust.
- Allegations that U.S. intelligence had prior knowledge of the attacks and failed to act. Weldon specifically referenced the Able Danger program, which purportedly identified key hijackers before 9/11, a claim echoed by other officials and former FBI Director Louis Freeh, who has also criticized the Commission for overlooking critical evidence.
The 9/11 Commissionâs Contested Legacy
The 9/11 Commission, established to provide a definitive account of the attacks, has faced ongoing criticism regarding its independence, the scope of its investigation, and the degree of cooperation from government agencies. Its co-chairs, Thomas Kean and Lee Hamilton, have themselves admitted that the Commission was âset up to fail,â citing inadequate funding, tight deadlines, and resistance from multiple agencies.
Blockquote:
âThere are still outstanding questions about what exactly happened and why, and that is troubling⊠Now is the time for a sober look, not a wild-eyed speculative look, but an honest look and honest conversations with people who participated in the response to that day.â â Tucker Carlson, introducing the Weldon interview.
Renewed Calls for Transparency
Weldonâs interview has galvanized both supporters and skeptics of the official 9/11 narrative. Online forums and social media are awash with renewed calls for declassification of documents and a re-examination of the events, as well as demands for accountability regarding the treatment of whistleblowers and dissenting officials.
Tucker Carlson has announced plans for a multi-part documentary series aiming to take a deeper, more nuanced look at the 9/11 Commission Report and the lingering questions that continue to haunt the American public.
As the nation marks nearly a quarter-century since the attacks, Weldonâs allegations have reignited a critical conversation about government transparency, the limits of official investigations, and the enduring quest for truth in the shadow of one of Americaâs most consequential tragedies.