Friday, September 8, 2006
Clinton to ABC: Don't Air 9/11 Film
Lawyers for former President Clinton penned a letter to ABC on Friday demanding that the network correct what they consider "fiction" regarding 'The Path to 9/11' docudrama or decide not to broadcast the program.
The letter was signed by Bruce R. Lindsey, CEO of the William J. Clinton Foundation, and Douglas J. Band, counselor to Clinton.
They claim, on behalf of Clinton, that the "Path to 9/11" docudrama set to air Sunday and Monday nights on ABC uses disinformation that harms Clinton's legacy. This is achieved by distorting Clinton's record with regard to the possible capture of Osama bin Laden prior to the 9/11 terrorist attacks five years ago.
"At a moment when we should be debating how to make the nation safer by implementing the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, 'The Path to 9/11' calls into question the accuracy of the commission's report and whether fabricated scenes are, in fact, an accurate portrayal of history," they wrote.
Clinton's lawyers express their "concern" for how the airing of the series will impact the public who view it on television.
"Labeling the show as 'fiction' does not meet your responsibility to the victims of the September 11th attacks, their families, the hard work of the 9/11 Commission, or to the American people as a whole," they write.
Clinton's lawyers also cited several examples of public outrage over the film, including comments by former Clinton administration officials, criticism from an actor who stars in the series and the former head of the 9/11 Commission.
The lawyers said the "fictional drama" employed by the filmmakers may actually be construed as a factual representation of what preceded the 9/11 attacks.
The Clinton team chastised ABC for not making the necessary changes to the docudrama or pulling the series entirely in view of the outrage expressed by the former president and his supporters.
Some points made by the letter writers to ABC:
Your corporate partner, Scholastic, has disassociated itself from this project.
9/11 Commission Chairman Thomas Kean, who served as co-executive producer on "The Path to 9/11," has stated that he raised concerns about the accuracy of several scenes in the film . . .
Harvey Keitel, who plays the star role of FBI agent John O'Neill, told reporters . . . he is upset that several scenes were simply invented for dramatic purposes.
ABC has stated publicly that it is still editing the series in advance of its premiere, but the Clinton team considers this "an admission that it is irreparably flawed."
"As a nation, we need to be focused on preventing another attack, not fictionalizing the last one for television ratings. "The Path to 9/11" not only tarnishes the work of the 9/11 Commission, but also cheapens the fifth anniversary of what was a very painful moment in history for all Americans."
Lawyers for former President Clinton penned a letter to ABC on Friday demanding that the network correct what they consider "fiction" regarding 'The Path to 9/11' docudrama or decide not to broadcast the program.
The letter was signed by Bruce R. Lindsey, CEO of the William J. Clinton Foundation, and Douglas J. Band, counselor to Clinton.
They claim, on behalf of Clinton, that the "Path to 9/11" docudrama set to air Sunday and Monday nights on ABC uses disinformation that harms Clinton's legacy. This is achieved by distorting Clinton's record with regard to the possible capture of Osama bin Laden prior to the 9/11 terrorist attacks five years ago.
"At a moment when we should be debating how to make the nation safer by implementing the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, 'The Path to 9/11' calls into question the accuracy of the commission's report and whether fabricated scenes are, in fact, an accurate portrayal of history," they wrote.
Clinton's lawyers express their "concern" for how the airing of the series will impact the public who view it on television.
"Labeling the show as 'fiction' does not meet your responsibility to the victims of the September 11th attacks, their families, the hard work of the 9/11 Commission, or to the American people as a whole," they write.
Clinton's lawyers also cited several examples of public outrage over the film, including comments by former Clinton administration officials, criticism from an actor who stars in the series and the former head of the 9/11 Commission.
The lawyers said the "fictional drama" employed by the filmmakers may actually be construed as a factual representation of what preceded the 9/11 attacks.
The Clinton team chastised ABC for not making the necessary changes to the docudrama or pulling the series entirely in view of the outrage expressed by the former president and his supporters.
Some points made by the letter writers to ABC:
Your corporate partner, Scholastic, has disassociated itself from this project.
9/11 Commission Chairman Thomas Kean, who served as co-executive producer on "The Path to 9/11," has stated that he raised concerns about the accuracy of several scenes in the film . . .
Harvey Keitel, who plays the star role of FBI agent John O'Neill, told reporters . . . he is upset that several scenes were simply invented for dramatic purposes.
ABC has stated publicly that it is still editing the series in advance of its premiere, but the Clinton team considers this "an admission that it is irreparably flawed."
"As a nation, we need to be focused on preventing another attack, not fictionalizing the last one for television ratings. "The Path to 9/11" not only tarnishes the work of the 9/11 Commission, but also cheapens the fifth anniversary of what was a very painful moment in history for all Americans."
