T4 B18 Correspondence Fdr- 3-16-04 Suntrust Document Request 693

copy Thomas H. Kean CHAIR

Lee H. Hamilton VICE CHAIR

March 16, 2004 Via Facsimile (404) 724-3550

Richard Ben-Veniste Fred F. Fielding Jamie S. Gorelick Slade Gorton Bob Kerrey

Mr. Raymond D. Fortin General Counsel SunTrust Banks, Inc. SunTrust Plaza P.O. Box 4418, Mail Code 643 Atlanta, GA 30302

v

John F. Lehman

Dear Mr. Fortin:

Timothy J. Roemer

The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States is investigating the facts and circumstances surrounding the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and the government's response, to evaluate the lessons learned from those attacks and to make recommendations for preventing future attacks. As part of our work, we are interviewing a number of people who may have information and insights relevant to our inquiry. The Commission requests an interview with a representative of SunTrust Banks regarding contacts the September 11 hijackers had with SunTrust. Specifically, we are asking SunTrust to designate a witness or witnesses competent to testify about the following subject areas:

James R. Thompson

Philip D. Zelikow EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

1) Any suspicions raised by any SunTrust personnel about any of the September 11 hijackers, including the suspicions giving rise to the June 11, 2001 internal Security Alert concerning September 11 hijacker Marwan Al-Shehhi. 2) SunTrust's response to any pre-9/11 suspicions about any of the September 11 hijackers, including the June 11,2001 internal Security Alert, any other alerts, any contemplated or actual filing of suspicious activity reports, and any contemplated or actual contact before 9/11 with any law enforcement or regulatory agency regarding any of the September 11 hijackers. 3) The extent to which the transactions of the September 11 hijackers complied with or violated internal SunTrust compliance policies and procedures.

301 7th Street SW, Room 5125

26 Federal Plaza

Washington, DC 20407

Suite 13-100

T 202.331.4060 F 202.296.5545

New York, NY 10278

www.9-llcommission.gov

T 212.264.1505 F 212.264.1595

Mr. Raymond D. Fortin March 16, 2004 Page 2 4) The extent, if any, to which SunTrust has changed any of its policies or procedures since September 11, 2001 to detect the use of SunTrust by potential terrorist operatives. A related document request is attached. We request that the designated witness or witnesses appear at our office in Washington, DC for an interview as soon as possible. Please contact Douglas Greenburg, a member of the Commission's professional staff at (202) 331-0629 to discuss this scheduling of the interview and compliance with the attached document request. Sincerely,

)aniel Marcus General Counsel Attachment

Thomas H. Kean CHAIR

Lee H. Hamilton

SUNTRUST BANKS, INC. DOCUMENT REQUEST

VICE CHAIR

Richard Ben-Veniste Fred F. Fielding Jamie S. Gorelick

The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (the "Commission") requests that the SunTrust Banks, Inc. ("SunTrust" or the "respondent") provide the Commission with a copy of the following documents no later than March 30, 2004 (the "production date"):

Slade Gorton Bob Kerrey John F. Lehman Timothy J. Roemer James R. Thompson Philip D. Zelikow EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

1. All documents (other than account statements) related to the June 11, 2001 internal "Security Alert" concerning Marwan Al-Shehhi. 2. All documents created prior to September 11, 2001 (other than account statements) related to any suspicions concerning the activities of the September 11 hijackers. 3. All documents created prior to September 11, 2001 related to any actual or contemplated contact with any law enforcement or regulatory agency concerning the September 11 hijackers. The Commission requests that the documents requested above be provided as soon as they are available. If the requested documents are withheld from production, even temporarily, based on an alleged claim of privilege or for any other reason, the Commission requests that the respondent, as soon as possible and in no event later than the production date, provide the alleged basis for not producing them, with sufficient specificity to allow a meaningful challenge to any such withholding. If the respondent does not have possession, custody or control of the requested documents but has information about where they may be located, the Commission requests that the respondent provide such information as soon as possible and in no event later than the production date. If the respondent has any questions or concerns about the interpretation of this request, the Commission requests that any such questions or concerns be raised with the Commission as soon as possible so that any such issues can be addressed and resolved prior to the production date. March 16, 2004

Daniel Marcus General Counsel

TEL (202) 331-4060 FAX (202) 296-5545 www.9-1 lcommission.gov