On Friday, the U.S. House voted on a bill that was previously approved by the Senate and which would allow 9/11 victims’ families to bring lawsuits against foreign countries and nationals.
Advertisement
The U.S. Senate passed the “Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act”, or JASTA, unanimously in May.
The unopposed House vote Friday to allow families of September 11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia begins a diplomatic nightmare for President Barack Obama.
The administration for months has argued the legislation could harm the country’s relationship with Saudi Arabia and put USA officials stationed overseas in jeopardy.
Adel al-Jubeir, the Saudi Foreign Minister, delivered the Kingdom’s message personally in March during a trip to Washington, telling lawmakers that Saudi Arabia would be forced to sell up to $750 billion in treasury securities and other assets in the U.S. before they could be in danger of being frozen by American courts, The New York Times reported. Jubeir’s initial threat was followed nearly immediately by a chorus of officials coming out against the bill. Both Obama and a White House spokesman said in April the president would veto the bill.
According to sources familiar with the documents, the information in the pages lays out a number of circumstances that suggest it’s possible two of the 9/11 hijackers living in California in the months leading up to the attack were receiving operational support from individuals loyal to Saudi Arabia. The report detailed substantial financial support from the Saudi royal family to people who facilitated the attack. Fifteen out of 19 men who hijacked commercial airliners and used them as missiles to target the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon were Saudi subjects. The market has already been absorbing steady sales out of eastern Asia, particularly from China, and would likely be unable to absorb another $750 billion debt dump.
The White House also has cautioned that if the door is opened for US citizens to take the Saudis to court, then a foreign country could in turn sue the United States. Saudi officials have denied any connection to the terrorist attack. The measure, S. 2040, was co-sponsored in the Senate by the No. 2 Democrat, Chuck Schumer of NY, and the No. 2 Republican, John Cornyn of Texas.
Opponents of the bill said it could strain relations with Saudi Arabia and lead to retaliatory laws targeting USA citizens or corporations in other countries.
The White House on Friday reiterated that President Barack Obama would veto the bill. “There are always diplomatic considerations that get in the way of justice, but if a court proves the Saudis were complicit in 9/11, they should be held accountable”. Schumer added that, “if they’ve done nothing wrong, they have nothing to worry about”. But if Congress adjourns before the 10-day clock runs out, it could trigger a pocket veto – a constitutional quirk that allows a president to defeat a legislative proposal by holding onto it until Congress is out of session.
Victims’ families say they are pressuring the White House to back off its veto threat while also asking lawmakers to stay in town in case an override vote is needed.
Advertisement
“I am absolutely positive, absolutely confident, that he will not be able to veto it”, said Strada, who was in Washington for the vote.
