Senate Hands Obama Huge Loss, Gives 9/11 Victims’ Families Big Victory
Families of the victims of the 9/11 attacks moved one step closer to being able to sue Saudi Arabia after the Senate overrode President Barack Obama’s veto of a bill allowing those lawsuits.
The vote on the override was 97-1.
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., was the only one in the chamber to support Obama.
The Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, or JASTA, would provide an exception to the Obama-supported doctrine of “sovereign immunity,” in which countries are not sued in one another’s courts.
Obama has insisted that although the bill does give 9/11 families the chance they have wanted to sue Saudi Arabia, the U.S. might lose the immunity from lawsuits it currently has in other nations.
Senators who opposed Obama said the risk was worth taking.
“This legislation is really about pursuing justice,” said Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas. “The families have already suffered too much. They’ve already suffered untold tragedy, of course, and they deserve to find a path to closure that only justice can provide.”
Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., another strong supporter of the legislation, 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.”
The bill was vetoed by Obama on Friday after the president sought to find supporters who would take his side against the families of 9/11 victims who pushed for the bill.
Overriding a presidential veto requires a two-thirds majority in both houses of Congress.
The Senate was the first to act to override. House action is now pending and may take place this week.
JASTA’s override came as some lawmakers expressed concerns that they still don’t know the full extent of Saudi involvement in the 9/11 attacks.
“We are still learning the facts, but there is mounting evidence that the Saudi government – or at least operations and operatives within the Saudi government – aided and abetted one of the most massive crimes in the United States,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. “In our system, the truth behind those facts deserves to be presented in court – a court of law where fairness and justice will be assured.” (For more from the author of “Senate Hands Obama Huge Loss, Gives 9/11 Victims’ Families Big Victory” please click HERE)
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