9/11 Panel May Seek Extension
Pressure Mounts as Investigation of Attacks Bogs Down
By Dan Eggen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, November 27, 2003; Page A02
Amid fears that it can no longer meet a spring deadline, the independent commission investigating the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks is coming under increasing pressure to seek an extension of its work into the 2004 election season.
Although the panel's leadership says it can still complete its investigation on schedule, a growing number of commissioners believe that is unlikely and are pushing the group to consider asking Congress for more time, several officials said. An influential group of relatives of Sept. 11 victims, the Family Steering Committee, also issued a statement yesterday recommending that the commission seriously discuss an extension.
Any attempt to move the May 27 deadline, however, would require the approval of Congress and President Bush and could make the commission -- which has tried to remain above the political fray -- an issue in the presidential campaign. The White House, which opposed the commission's formation for more than a year, successfully fought to impose a deadline that is five months before the November elections. Commission officials and members of Congress expect the administration to oppose a request for an extension.
Calls to the White House for comment yesterday were not returned.
The 10-member panel, created a year ago today, has been bogged down for months in battles over access to government material related to the attacks, which culminated in a subpoena earlier this month to New York City that is likely to end up in a court battle. The conflicts have already forced the commission to postpone one of its key hearings and to schedule more time for staff to conduct investigations on weekends and holidays.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A16614-2003Nov26.html 
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