Don’t Get ‘Spun Up’ Over Moussaoui, Minneapolis Agents Were Told by FBI, CIA
Summary
In August 2001, the FBI and CIA handled information about Zacarias Moussaoui, who was detained in Minnesota and suspected of terrorist ties. Confusion over legal rules delayed a search of his belongings, and despite warnings, officials did not fully investigate his connections before the 9/11 attacks.Key Facts
- Zacarias Moussaoui was arrested in Minnesota on August 16, 2001.
- French intelligence reported Moussaoui had ties to a man involved in Chechen rebel fighting.
- FBI agents were unsure if the Chechen rebels counted as a "recognized foreign power" under surveillance laws.
- FBI headquarters incorrectly told agents they needed to prove this recognition to get a search warrant under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).
- Because of this misunderstanding, FBI agents spent time trying to connect Chechen rebels to al-Qaeda instead of pursuing other legal options.
- The FBI considered deporting Moussaoui to France for investigation rather than searching his belongings themselves.
- CIA director George Tenet was briefed about Moussaoui but believed the FBI had the situation under control.
- Agents suspected a possible terrorist plot involving planes but failed to fully act on the intelligence before 9/11.
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