Obama vetoes 9/11 bill, confronts US Congress

President Barack Obama vetoed a bill that would allow lawsuits against Saudi Arabia over the 9/11 terrorist attacks, despite the US Congress passing it.

US President Barack Obama. Photo: Reuters.

President Barack Obama said on September 23 that the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) would affect US national security and harm important alliances. It moves important terrorism-related issues from political officials to the courts, Reuters reported.

The US Senate and House of Representatives have passed JASTA. Mr. Obama now faces the risk of a combined veto by Democratic and Republican lawmakers, the first of his presidency. US congressional sources say the move could come as early as September 27.

If it becomes law, JASTA would eliminate sovereign immunity and the prohibition on suing governments suspected of involvement in terrorist attacks on U.S. soil. It would also allow survivors and relatives of the dead to seek compensation from other countries.

The US suspects the Saudi government of involvement in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks because 15 of the 19 hijackers were Saudi. Riyadh denies the accusation.

President Obama said that other countries could use JASTA to sue American diplomats, soldiers, employees of American companies or foreign organizations that receive support, equipment and training from Washington.

Mr Obama has used his veto 12 times and has not been overridden. New York Senator Chuck Schumer insists that is about to change. Schumer, a Democrat, has close ties to Mr Obama and co-wrote JASTA.

"It's a disappointing decision. It will be quickly overturned by Congress," he said. "If Saudi Arabia has done nothing wrong, they have nothing to fear from this bill. If they were involved in 9/11, they must be held accountable."

According to VNE