Family Members of 9/11 Victims May Finally Be Able to Seek Justice
The possibility of families of the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks being allowed to sue the Saudi Arabian government may become reality.
Fox News reported Tuesday that legislation making the lawsuits possible has been approved by the Senate.
The Obama administration is threatening to veto the proposed bill.
The Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act was approved by senators on both sides of the aisle.
Senators John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., are urging the House to approve the bill.
Should the bill be passed, the government of Saudi Arabia says it will respond by extracting billions of dollars from the U.S economy.
Cornyn says the legislation will not damage the relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia. “It’s up to the House.” he said.
The bill, if passed, will allow family members of 9/11 victims to sue the Saudi government in U.S. court for any part they played in the attacks. Terrorists launched attacks in Washington, D.C, New York and Pennsylvania, killing thousands.
A statement from a group of family members of the victims said the bill, “reaffirms the commonsense principle that no person, entity or government enjoys blanket immunity from legal responsibility for participation in a terrorist attack that takes lives or causes injury inside the United States of America.”
Although both sides of the Senate have approved the legislation, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest has said, “It’s difficult to imagine the president signing this legislation.”
He went on to say the legislation would have “unwanted consequences” and it would “change longstanding international law regarding sovereign immunity and the president continues to harbor serious concerns this legislation would make the U.S. vulnerable in other court systems around the world.”
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., voiced concerns that passing the bill would alienate Saudi Arabia, while undermining an already strained relationship between the U.S. and its ally in the Middle East. (For more from the author of “Family Members of 9/11 Victims May Finally Be Able to Seek Justice” please click HERE)
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