President Barack Obama will veto legislation that would allow families of the victims of 9/11 to sue Saudi Arabia in USA courts, a measure opposed by the US ally, White House press secretary Josh Earnest said Monday.
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“That is still the plan”, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters Monday.
“The President feels strongly about this, and I do anticipate that the President will veto the legislation when it’s presented to him”. The White House has signaled President Barack Obama would veto the proposed law over concerns that it could open the USA up to similar lawsuits from other countries.
Fifteen of the 19 9/11 hijackers were Saudi nationals, fueling speculation about the kingdom’s possible role. A presidential veto could spur Congress to consider a veto override, which has not successfully occurred during Obama’s administration.
He said that the GCC countries hope that the U.S. does not adopt this legislation which would otherwise create a risky precedent in worldwide relations as it would destabilize relations among countries. It would also be the first time that Obama would have faced such a move.
Despite the pleas from 9/11 victims’ families, President Obama is slated to veto a bill allowing lawsuits against Saudi government.
The White House’s position on legislation that unanimously passed both chambers of Congress potentially sets up a showdown on an emotionally charged topic.
The bill is designed to create an exception if foreign countries are found at least partially responsible for terror attacks which kill American citizens within the US.
The United States flag decorates the side of a guard tower inside of Joint Task Force Guantanamo Camp VI at the U.S. Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba March 22, 2016.
Saudi Arabia has strongly objected to the proposed law, which would give victims’ families the right to sue Saudi Arabia in USA courts.
The Saudi government has staunchly opposed the legislation.
But Earnest indicated the White House would continue its lobbying campaign against the measure as a last-ditch attempt to ensure it does not become law.
The Senate already approved the bill four months ago and it now goes before President Barack Obama.
However, Obama’s veto could be overridden by a two-thirds majority in the Senate and House of Representatives.
The Saudi government has denied involvement in the attacks.
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Earnest said that criminal justice reform and the president’s nomination of Merrick Garland for the Supreme Court-a nomination Congress has not acted on-also could be discussed at the meeting.
