“The concept of sovereign immunity is one that protects the United States as much as any other country in the world, given the way the USA is engaged in the world”, Earnest said.
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Though the bill has not yet been presented to Obama, lawmakers are ready to override his veto, a first in his presidency.
One of the fears held by the Obama administration is that that the law could open the USA government up to lawsuits in countries around the world, Earnest said.
JASTA is a bill that allows 9/11 victims and their families to sue Saudi Arabia in us federal court for its alleged role in indirectly financing the attacks.
On Friday, the House of Representatives passed the bill by voice vote.
The measure passed the Senate in May without opposition and sailed through the House by a large margin on Friday.
So, what role did the Saudis play in the worst attack on US soil since Pearl Harbor?
The legislation could also further strain relations between Washington and oil-rich Saudi Arabia, which is wary of the Obama administration’s outreach to its regional rival, Iran. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., also will attend, according to the White House. The Saudi government has always denied any involvement in the attacks.
During the White House press briefing with reporters, Earnest reiterated the president’s concerns about upsetting ties with top Middle East ally Saudi Arabia, where numerous 9/11 hijackers were from.
Earnest acknowledged it’s “possible” the veto will anger or disappoint families of victims of the September 11 attacks.
But President Barack Obama says he is strongly opposed to the measure and the White House has signaled that he would veto it. “I hope for their sake that the Administration will rethink vetoing this bill”, Sen.
Long-sought provisions to provide money to deal with Zika look likely to be added to a must-pass spending bill to fund the government through December 9. Fifteen out of nineteen of the men that hijacked commercial airliners and used them as missiles to take down the World Trade Center and damage the Pentagon were Saudi subjects.
It was the first time Turkey had formally asked Washington to arrest Gulen, who now lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania, the agency said. But we agree that the version of JASTA now on its way to the President’s desk-which reflects dramatic changes introduced by Senator Cornyn last May-should be vetoed.
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But these moves have been blocked by a 1976 law which gives foreign nations immunity from lawsuits in USA courts. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), who introduced the bill in the Senate, said in a statement Monday. Lawmakers are only expected to return to Washington again until the November 8, elections. “Al-Bayoumi was known to have access to large amounts of money from Saudi Arabia, despite the fact that he did not appear to hold a job”, the report said.
