The federal commission investigating the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks announced on Thursday that it had issued a subpoena to New York City for a variety of police tapes and other material related to the attacks. The panel said the city's refusal to hand over the material had "significantly impeded the commission's investigation."
The 10-member commission said the subpoena required the city to turn over tapes and transcripts of emergency 911 calls made that day, as well as transcripts of hundreds of interviews of firefighters that were conducted after the attacks.
Aides to Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg said he intended to challenge the subpoena, raising the prospect of a lengthy court battle with the independent commission. A statement issued by City Hall said that the mayor was "dismayed" by the subpoena and that the city had offered to share material with the commission after it was edited to remove the "intensely emotional statements of people who lost their lives or whose lives were in jeopardy" on Sept. 11.
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In a statement on Thursday, the panel said "the city's failure to produce these important documents has significantly impeded the commission's investigation," adding that the initial request for the police tapes and other material was made four months ago. "Given its statutory deadline," it said, "the commission cannot wait any longer for these vital records." The commission must file a final report by May 2004.
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http://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/21/politics/21TERR.html?ex=1069995600&en=0abbafa2a30f4d1d&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE