Obama vetoes 9/11 lawsuit bill that allows families to sue Saudi Arabia

Washington, DC [USA], Sept. 24 (ANI): President Barack Obama has vetoed a bill that would have allowed the families of 9/11 victims to sue the Government of Saudi Arabia, pitting him against the Congress. According to the White House, the legislation could expose US diplomats and servicemen to litigation in other countries. In his veto message, Obama wrote that he had "deep sympathy for the families of the victims of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, who have suffered grievously," reports the CNN. He, however, maintained that the legislation would seriously hurt US national security interests and cause harm to important alliances. The House had earlier approved a bipartisan bill that would allow families of September 11 victims to sue the Government of Saudi Arabia. The Senate had passed the bill in May by a voice vote. Meanwhile, Republican presidential contender Donald Trump in a statement said the move "is shameful and will go down as one of the low points of the Obama presidency." Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, Obama's former secretary of state, expressed her support for the legislation, demonstrating the difficult political position the White House was faced with. Jesse Lehrich, a Clinton spokesman said, "Clinton continues to support the efforts by Sen. (Chuck) Schumer and his colleagues in Congress to secure the ability of 9/11 families and other victims of terror to hold accountable those responsible. " The Republican and the Democratic leaders in Congress, however, said that they'll override Obama's veto next week. Obama has now issued 12 vetoes and if successful, a Congress' override would be the first of his presidency.(ANI)