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Summary: Congress overrode Obama’s veto of the 9/11 bill in an overwhelming majority, giving the victims’ families the chance to sue Saudi Arabia for supports terrorists.
Families of 9/11 victims will have the opportunity to sue the Saudi Arabian government for allegedly support the terrorists responsible for the grisly attacks on our country. President Obama had vetoed the 9/11 legislation but Congress overrode his authority and put the bill back into action. It was the first override of his presidency.
The House of Reps and Senate voted in a clear bipartisan union to reject any pressure from the White House to support the president’s decision. The Senate was a 97 to 1 vote while the House came in at 348 to 77. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada was the lone opposing vote. Administration officials claimed the bill would pose a national security threat by allowing U.S. officials to be subjected to similar lawsuits abroad.
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Senator Charles E. Schumer of New York who co-authored the bill with Texas Sen. John Cornyn said, “Overriding a presidential veto is something we don’t take lightly, but it was important in this case that the families of the victims of 9/11 be allowed to pursue justice, even if that pursuit causes some diplomatic discomforts.”
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White House press secretary Josh Earnest said the vote was “the single most embarrassing thing the United States Senate has done possibly since 1983. Ultimately these senators are going to have to answer their own conscience and their constituents as the account for their actions today.”
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The bill will allow courts to waive the protection of foreign sovereign immunity in situations involving acts of terrorism on U.S. soil. Those that oppose the bill worry that the precedent will be set for other nations to in return American diplomats, officials, and military personnel serving in foreign countries.
Do you think 9/11 families should be allowed to sue Saudi Arabia? What about other Middle Eastern countries? Tell us in the comments below.
To learn more about Saudi Arabia’s involvement, read Lawsuit Revived Claiming Saudi Arabia Liable for Providing Support to al Qaeda 9/11 Attacks.
Photo: nydailynews.com
