The bill amends a law from 1976 that gives foreign countries immunity from lawsuits from the United States, and allows lawsuits from Americans against nations directly involved in terrorist attacks against United States citizens.
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Observers stated that the expected number of congressmen with the JASTA could lead to overriding the presidential veto, while others considered that the technical procedures would hinder the passing of the bill.
White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said President Obama “does intend to veto this legislation”, on Monday during a briefing.
“The president feels quite strongly about this”, Earnest said. “I do anticipate the president would veto this legislation”. But it is possible that members may have second thoughts, under pressure from the administration and foreign governments may be persuaded to change positions. But he has been highly critical of Saudi Arabia for failing to reciprocate the financial and military support it gets from the United States. Other measures, like a bipartisan one that would seek to block the sale of some tanks to the kingdom, are also on the horizon. Administration officials say the bill would also endanger the USA relationship with Saudi Arabia.
Congress in July released 28 declassified pages from a congressional report into 9/11 that rekindled speculation that some of the hijackers had ties to Saudi government officials. He said that the text has yet to reach the president’s desk. But he acknowledged that Obama’s stance could anger the families of Americans who perished in the terrorist attacks 15 years ago. “I hope for their sake that the administration will rethink vetoing this bill”. But the US bill “will cause a legal revolution in global law with major political consequences”.
The White House has resisted the legislation over fears it could open up the U.S.to retaliation in foreign courts. “The president does plan to veto this legislation”.
Foremost on the agenda, Obama said, is averting a partial federal government shutdown at the end of the fiscal year on September 30.
The announcement came hours before Obama held a bipartisan meeting in the Oval Office with congressional leaders on averting a government shutdown and funding to combat the Zika virus.
Most recently, Congress itself has again been at odds with Riyadh.
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This is while top Democratic leaders have reiterated their support for the bill, with Harry Reid, the Senate’s Democratic leader, saying he backs the measure. According to CBS News, the bill was sponsored by Senators John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, and Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat. “Hillary Clinton can no longer be silent”. “He could make it hard if not impossible for Congress to vote to override the veto”.
