WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- The U.S. commission investigating the Sept. 11, 2001, hijackings will seek an extension of its deadline.
Members of the 10-member bipartisan panel told United Press International that they need more time to complete their inquiries than is allowed by their current, congressionally-mandated deadline of May 27.
"We need more time to do what we have to do," said Commissioner Richard Ben-Veniste.
Another panel member, Tim Roemer, the former Democratic congressman from Indiana, said the decision to ask for two months more had been reached by consensus.
In order for the extnsion to be granted, both houses of Congress must pass a bill that the president will have to sign.
The call for an extension may provoke a political row, since it brings the publication of the commission's report perilously close to a highly contested presidential election, in which the issue of who is best qualified to protect the country from terrorism is likely to be hotly debated.
Panel members indicated that they were ready to fight for the extra time if they needed to. "If it is necessary, we will make (our case) vigorously and in public," said Ben-Veniste.
