On Monday, a bipartisan measure to allow families victimized by the 9/11 terrorist attacks to sue Saudi Arabia is looking remote and has encountered sharp setbacks. A GOP Senator is seeking to block the measure while the White House itself threatened a veto.
Sponsored by Senator Chuck Schumer and John Cornyn, the bill is also known as the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act. The bill allows the victims to file a lawsuit against governments of other nations that have provided financial support to al-Qaeda - which conspicuously includes Saudi Arabia. Anti-War reported that Josh Earnest, the White House press secretary, openly said that he cannot imagine a scenario in which President Barack Obama doesn't veto the measure.
The State Department and the White House issued a blunt warning to all legislators not to proceed with the bill over fears that it could have dramatic ramifications for the US and citizens living abroad to retaliatory lawsuits. According to CNN, President Obama lands in Riyadh Wednesday to start a discussion with Saudi Arabia over Iran and ISIS, making the measure much more sensitive.
Meanwhile, proponents of the bill are beginning to intensify their pressure campaign. Schumer said that if Saudi Arabia participated in terrorism, then they should be sued. Earnest fired back a warning that it would jeopardize the international sovereignty and significantly place the US to significant risk.
DNA India said that Saudi Arabia has reportedly threatened to offload its $750 billion investment if the US House passes the bill. The bill would block Saudi Arabia and other nations alleged of having connections with terrorists from invoking their sovereign immunity in federal court.
Saudi Arabia has repeatedly denied any role in the 9/11 attacks; however, victim's families still seeks to bring the case to the court. There have been rumors that the "confidential" 28 pages of the detailed report of 9/11 indicate that Saudi Arabia was involved in funding the attack.
