Senate rejects Obama veto of Saudi September 11 bill

The US Senate today overwhelmingly rejected President Barack Obama’s veto of legislation allowing relatives of the victims of the September 11 attacks to sue Saudi Arabia’s government.

The house voted 97-1 to reject Obama’s veto. The measure next goes to the House of Representatives, which is due to vote later today. If two-thirds of members also support the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, it would be the first veto override of Obama’s eight-year presidency.

Obama vetoed the bill on Friday after it passed the House and Senate unanimously in a rare show of full bipartisan support.

The Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act would allow the families of 9/11 victims to sue Riyadh if it is found to be legally liable for helping to support the devastating terror attacks. Saudi Arabia has denied any such role.