Lawmakers vow to override Obama’s veto of Sept. 11 bill
WASHINGTON — Democrats and Republicans are vowing to decisively override President Obama’s veto of a bill to allow families of Sept. 11 victims to sue the government of Saudi Arabia for the kingdom’s alleged backing of the terrorists who killed almost 3,000 people.
The legislation, according to Obama, could leave American troops and diplomats overseas vulnerable to lawsuits in foreign courts from people seeking redress for actions taken by armed groups that are backed or trained by the United States.
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, another of the bill’s sponsors, criticized Obama for failing to listen to the families of the victims and said he looked forward to the opportunity for Congress to override the veto.
The legislation gives victims’ families the right to sue in U.S. court for any role that elements of the Saudi government may have played in the 2001 attacks that killed thousands.
Under the terms of the bill, courts would be permitted to waive a claim of foreign sovereign immunity when an act of terrorism occurs inside U.S. borders.
