WASHINGTON, April 26 (UPI) -- A federal court in Washington will decide whether a fired FBI translator can testify in a lawsuit brought by relatives of the Sept. 11 victims.
U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton said Monday he would hear classified evidence next month from the government, which is seeking a gag order on the translator, Sibel Edmonds, because her testimony might damage national security.
Edmonds was subpoenaed by lawyers representing several hundred Sept. 11 families, who are suing a wide range of Arab banks and wealthy individuals -- including members of the Saudi royal family -- for allegedly helping or financing al-Qaida.
Edmonds -- who has given evidence to congressional investigators and to the blue-ribbon commission probing the attacks -- says the FBI's translation efforts were badly managed, poorly executed and marked by lax or nonexistent internal security.
She is also suing the FBI for firing her after she brought the matter to the attention of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
