US Congress overrides Obama veto on law for suing Saudis re 9/11

An Obama veto was overridden for the first time in his presidency by a Congressional majority in order to enact a law that allows up to 3,000 survivors and victims’ families to sue the Saudi government for links with 15 Saudi nationals who took part in the 9/11 terror attacks in New York.  The House voted 348-77, well above the two-thirds majority needed.  The final vote tally in the Senate was 97-1. Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-.Nev., cast the sole vote against override, automatically bringing the motion into law.

Obama tried to stop this legislation on the grounds that it violated the immunity of a sovereign government and would be a precedent for similar suits against the US and its representatives, including diplomats and military. He said it would also infringe on his ability as president to carry out foreign policy. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter warned that the new law placed US assets abroad in danger.