Kristen Breitweiser
Encyclopedia
Kristen Breitweiser is a lawyer
and one of the Jersey Girls
, four women from New Jersey
who were widow
ed when their husbands were killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks
and subsequently researched the policy and intelligence failures that led up to the attacks. She was a member of the Family Steering Committee, which was instrumental in bringing the 9/11 Commission
into existence. She has testified before Congress
and has been spoken of as a potential candidate for the United States Senate
. Her account is well stated in her book, Wake-Up Call: The Political Education of a 9/11 Widow. C 2006, Breitweiser, Kristen.
Her husband, Ronald Michael Breitweiser, was killed at age 39 in the attacks. He was a senior vice president at Fiduciary Trust International at 2 World Trade Center
Although Breitweister stated that she was a Republican
who voted for George W. Bush
in 2000, she became an Independent due to her anger over Bush's response to 9/11, and vigorously supported John Kerry
in 2004. She continues to be an outspoken critic of the Bush Administration, claiming Bush has not made the United States safer since the attacks, as well as criticizing the war in Iraq
. See Wake-Up Call: The Political Education of a 9/11 Widow. C 2006, Breitweiser, Kristen.
After the publication of the 9/11 Commission Report
in 2004, Breitweiser said: "I'm very disturbed, and I want to get some answers," said Breitweiser. "I want to know what the truth is." She called the findings "an utterly hollow report."
Since May 2005 she's been a contributing blogger at The Huffington Post
.
In November 2009, she has welcomed the decision announced by the US Attorney General Eric Holder
to bring Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the suspected mastermind of the September 11 attacks, before a civilian court in New York.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and one of the Jersey Girls
Jersey Girls
The Jersey Girls or Jersey Widows refers to four American women who lost their husbands in the September 11 attacks. All four, Kristen Breitweiser, Patty Casazza, Lorie Van Auken, and Mindy Kleinberg, were residents of New Jersey, and helped lobby the U.S...
, four women from New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
who were widow
Widow
A widow is a woman whose spouse has died, while a widower is a man whose spouse has died. The state of having lost one's spouse to death is termed widowhood or occasionally viduity. The adjective form is widowed...
ed when their husbands were killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
and subsequently researched the policy and intelligence failures that led up to the attacks. She was a member of the Family Steering Committee, which was instrumental in bringing the 9/11 Commission
9/11 Commission
The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, also known as the 9/11 Commission, was set up on November 27, 2002, "to prepare a full and complete account of the circumstances surrounding the September 11, 2001 attacks", including preparedness for and the immediate response to...
into existence. She has testified before Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
and has been spoken of as a potential candidate for the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
. Her account is well stated in her book, Wake-Up Call: The Political Education of a 9/11 Widow. C 2006, Breitweiser, Kristen.
Her husband, Ronald Michael Breitweiser, was killed at age 39 in the attacks. He was a senior vice president at Fiduciary Trust International at 2 World Trade Center
Although Breitweister stated that she was a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
who voted for George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
in 2000, she became an Independent due to her anger over Bush's response to 9/11, and vigorously supported John Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
in 2004. She continues to be an outspoken critic of the Bush Administration, claiming Bush has not made the United States safer since the attacks, as well as criticizing the war in Iraq
2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
. See Wake-Up Call: The Political Education of a 9/11 Widow. C 2006, Breitweiser, Kristen.
After the publication of the 9/11 Commission Report
9/11 Commission Report
The 9/11 Commission Report, formally named Final Report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, is the official report of the events leading up to the September 11, 2001 attacks...
in 2004, Breitweiser said: "I'm very disturbed, and I want to get some answers," said Breitweiser. "I want to know what the truth is." She called the findings "an utterly hollow report."
Since May 2005 she's been a contributing blogger at The Huffington Post
The Huffington Post
The Huffington Post is an American news website and content-aggregating blog founded by Arianna Huffington, Kenneth Lerer, and Jonah Peretti, featuring liberal minded columnists and various news sources. The site offers coverage of politics, theology, media, business, entertainment, living, style,...
.
In November 2009, she has welcomed the decision announced by the US Attorney General Eric Holder
Eric Holder
Eric Himpton Holder, Jr. is the 82nd and current Attorney General of the United States and the first African American to hold the position, serving under President Barack Obama....
to bring Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the suspected mastermind of the September 11 attacks, before a civilian court in New York.
External links
- Huffington Post - Blog