White House Slams Congress for 'Buyer's Remorse' Over 9/11 Bill
- by Leah Brady
- in Worldwide
- — Oct 3, 2016
The U.S. Congress overrode a presidential veto of a bill allowing victims of the September 11 terror attacks to sue the Saudi Arabian government, a move that likely will damage Washington's ties with Riyadh and could spell trouble for the next American leader.
The Senator doesn't buy the President's reasoning for his veto-that the measure would open up avenues for American citizens to be sued by foreign governments. Congress was right to override the veto.
Following a USA bill that would allow the families of the victims of the 9/11 attacks to sue the Gulf country, the first lawsuit has been filed against Saudi Arabia.
Supporters said the families of 9/11 victims should be able to pursue justice against Saudi Arabia for its alleged backing of the attackers. He said that "there might be some unintended ramifications" worth further discussing. The president said the override was expected. The vote was 97 to 1 in the Senate and 348-77 in the House.
Ryan did not give a time frame, but Republican Senator Bob Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he thought JASTA could be addressed in Congress' "lame-duck" session after the November 8 election.
The vote was a blow to Obama as well as to Saudi Arabia, one of the United States' longest-standing allies in the Arab world, and some lawmakers who supported the override already plan to revisit the issue.
Embarrassing Obama couldn't have been the only reason to pass the bill.
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"It has to be something that doesn't weaken the bill and limit the right of these families to get their day in court and justice", Schumer, the incoming Senate Democratic leader, said.
Ryan did not said exactly how the law could be rewritten to accommodate only U.S. citizens with the same rules not being applicable vice versa. Additionally the recent release of a previously classified government report detailing the contact the 9/11 hijackers had with the Saudi government has raised serious questions about the kingdom's participation.
The country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it hoped "wisdom will prevail" and that "Congress will take the necessary steps to correct this legislation".
Earlier Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blamed the White House for not doing enough to express its own concerns about the legislation to Congress.
Saudi Arabia, which is strongly against the legislation, has denied any role in the 9/11 attacks.
White House Spokesmen Josh Earnest dismissed Congress' attempt to blame the Administration for what he described as "rapid onset buyer's remorse". Not a good move, said Obama who called it a "mistake" and warned of potentially huge downsides.
