THURSDAYS BRIEFINGS: Part 2 – The Press

January 9, 2025 – 5:30 PM

Journalists present:

Eleanor Watson – CBS ¹
Alice Cuddy – BBC ²
Carol Rosenburg NYT ³
John Ryan – Law Dragon ⁴
Terry McDermott – Author: ⁵ “Hunt for KSM,” 2012, Little Brown & Co. / “Perfect Soldiers,” 2006 Harper Perennial

Journalists filled the empty seats among VFM’s left by the members of the defense.One VFM declined to participate and departed.

VFM’s expressed their fears, wishes, and concerns to be emphasized in the press. We shared the statement made by one VFM, “we understand the complexity of the case. We hope for a court victory so it brings finality to this complex case. Of the 20,000 family members, many believe there’s only one way to have justice (death). There is a slim chance of what they want to occur.”

6:09 PM- “The stay was granted,” Carol Rosenberg announced.

Silent pause.

A wave of disappointment, anger, and tears moved around the foursquare.

For the three 28-31-year olds in the room, one who lost an uncle, two lost fathers, the complexities and denial of justice for the murders that have framed their developing lives is puzzling.

A VFM said, “by delaying this to the next administration, the Biden administration has failed the families of 9/11.”

A young family member said, “I’ve grown up watching my mom dealing with this grief and fight. There is no end to it! Tomorrow, we will board the plane with a deep sense of pain.”

Stateside, a VFM had booked a hotel near the new CCTV site in Farmingdale, NY to attend the anticipated entry plea for KSM. She shared in the disappointment when receiving news of the stay from VWAP this evening and frustration with the subsequent closing of the CCTV site for Friday morning.

A final thought – As the sun tilts toward the sea on the verge of my son Dylan’s 28^th birthday, I am reminded of a little boy with his fist clenched around a miniature car, asleep on the couch, too overwhelmed by grief to blow out his #5 candle.

We are yoked to this political mastodon. With the continuous denial of justice for the accused jailed murderers, the government is painting the bars of the Victim’s Family Members’ cage.

Following the briefings, VWAP staff dashed to the office to draft notification of the Stay sent to all VFMs. By 8:00 PM they re-joined the families for supper at the Bayview Restauraunt, ending the evening in song for Dylan.

For journalistic details pertaining to this ruling and briefing with families, please refer to the following links: