Congress votes to override veto of bill allowing families of Sept. 11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia
Updated: Congress has voted to override President Obama’s veto of a bill that would allow families of Sept. 11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia for alleged involvement in the attacks.
The U.S. Senate voted 97-1on Wednesday to override the veto, then the House voted 348-77 to override, the Washington Post reports. The only senator who sided with Obama was Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada.
The action on Wednesday is the first override of a veto by Obama, report the New York Times, USA Today, NBC News and the Washington Post.
The bill eliminates sovereign immunity for foreign governments in cases involving terrorist attacks within the United States. U.S. law already allows suits against countries that are designated as state sponsors of terrorism. The new bill doesn’t require such a designation.
Saudi Arabia has denied any role in the Sept. 11 attacks. Fifteen of the 19 Sept. 11 terrorists were Saudi nationals.
The administration has argued the bill invites other nations to sue U.S. officials and military personnel in foreign courts. The bill, Obama has said, infringes on his ability to conduct foreign policy.
The bill is known as the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, or JASTA.
Updated at 2:10 p.m. to include House vote.
