US Congress overrules Obama’s veto of 9/11 bill

The United States Congress on Wednesday passed into a law a bill that allows family members of September 11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia for what it referred to as alleged support for the attackers.

The Congress overturned president Barack Obama’s veto on Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA), with the House of Representatives voting 348-77 against the veto. The Congress vote followed US Senate’s similar stance when it rejected the veto 97-1.

Obama called it a “political vote,” adding that the move was a “mistake.”

"…If we eliminate this notion of sovereign immunity, then our men and women in uniform around the world could potentially start seeing ourselves subject to reciprocal laws," he told CNN in an interview.

Saudi Arabia, which has denied any role in the 2001 attacks, has maintained strong objections to JASTA. Earlier, media reports said the kingdom could sell up to $750 billion in US securities and assets if the JASTA is passed.

The law could also potentially impact Saudi Arabia’s first international bond sale, which was reportedly scheduled for October, as banks managing the issue would want to assess the market reaction before going forward.