Congress overrides Barack Obama's veto on 9/11 bill
President fears tit-for-tat lawsuits over US bill allowing families of 9/11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia
The US Congress has voted to override President Barack Obama's veto of a bill allowing families of the victims of the 9/11 terror attacks to sue Saudi Arabia.
The legislation "grants an exception to the legal principle of sovereign immunity in cases of terrorism on US soil, clearing the way for lawsuits seeking damages from the Saudi government", Reuters says.
Lawmakers in both the Senate and the House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly in favour of reversing the veto. This is first time this has happened during Obama's presidency, which has less than four months to go.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Democrats in "large numbers" sided with Republicans to deliver "a remarkable rebuke to the President", the New York Times says. The final tallies were a 97 to one vote in the Senate and 348 to 77 in the House.
"Asking us to stand between 9/11 families and their day in court is asking a lot," said Democratic Senator Chris Coons.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest delivered an "uncharacteristically blunt" response after the Senate vote, calling it the "single most embarrassing thing the Senate has done since 1983".
Obama vetoed the bill over fears it would "undermine US-Saudi relations" and open the door for "tit-for-tat lawsuits against US service members in places like Afghanistan and Iraq", the BBC says. "The United States relies on principles of immunity to prevent foreign litigants and foreign courts from second-guessing our counterterrorism operations and other actions that we take every day," he said.
Overruling the veto was "basically a political vote", Obama said yesterday.
"It's an example of why sometimes you have to do what's hard and, frankly, I wish Congress here had done what's hard," he said. "If you're perceived as voting against 9/11 families right before an election, not surprisingly, that's a hard vote for people to take. But it would have been the right thing to do."
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Barack Obama 'behind Starmer transformation'
Under The Radar The former US president urged Labour leader to 'talk more openly'
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Will Aukus pact survive a second Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question US, UK and Australia seek to expand 'game-changer' defence partnership ahead of Republican's possible return to White House
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
What solutions for Gaza have the international community put forward?
Today's Big Question Demilitarised zone and transforming Gaza into a rich waterfront property empire are among more outlandish ideas
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
'Is Hollywood undergoing a gun reform reckoning?'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
It's the economy, Sunak: has 'Rishession' halted Tory fightback?
Today's Big Question PM's pledge to deliver economic growth is 'in tatters' as stagnation and falling living standards threaten Tory election wipeout
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Why your local council may be going bust
The Explainer Across England, local councils are suffering from grave financial problems
By The Week UK Published
-
Rishi Sunak and the right-wing press: heading for divorce?
Talking Point The Telegraph launches 'assault' on PM just as many Tory MPs are contemplating losing their seats
By Keumars Afifi-Sabet, The Week UK Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published