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| Obama: Congress veto override of 9/11 lawsuits bill 'a mistake' | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| President Obama has said Congress made a "mistake" by overriding his veto and pushing through a bill that allows legal action against Saudi Arabia over the 9/11 attacks. | President Obama has said Congress made a "mistake" by overriding his veto and pushing through a bill that allows legal action against Saudi Arabia over the 9/11 attacks. |
| He said the bill would set a "dangerous precedent" for individuals around the world to sue the US government. | He said the bill would set a "dangerous precedent" for individuals around the world to sue the US government. |
| Wednesday's vote was the first time Mr Obama's veto power was overruled. | Wednesday's vote was the first time Mr Obama's veto power was overruled. |
| CIA Director John Brennan agreed that the bill carried "grave implications" for national security. | CIA Director John Brennan agreed that the bill carried "grave implications" for national security. |
| He added: "The downside is potentially huge." | He added: "The downside is potentially huge." |
| The Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism (JASTA) legislation opens the door for victims' families to sue any member of the Saudi government suspected of playing a role in the 9/11 attacks. | The Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism (JASTA) legislation opens the door for victims' families to sue any member of the Saudi government suspected of playing a role in the 9/11 attacks. |
| Fifteen of the 19 hijackers were Saudi nationals, but the oil-rich kingdom - a key US ally - has denied any role in the attacks, which left nearly 3,000 people dead. | Fifteen of the 19 hijackers were Saudi nationals, but the oil-rich kingdom - a key US ally - has denied any role in the attacks, which left nearly 3,000 people dead. |
| While US intelligence raised suspicions about some of the hijackers' connections, no link has been proven to support claims that Saudi officials provided financial support to the suspects. | While US intelligence raised suspicions about some of the hijackers' connections, no link has been proven to support claims that Saudi officials provided financial support to the suspects. |
| Mr Obama told CNN on Wednesday: "It's a dangerous precedent and it's an example of why sometimes you have to do what's hard. | Mr Obama told CNN on Wednesday: "It's a dangerous precedent and it's an example of why sometimes you have to do what's hard. |
| "And, frankly, I wish Congress here had done what's hard. | "And, frankly, I wish Congress here had done what's hard. |
| "The concern that I've had has nothing to do with Saudi Arabia per se or my sympathy for 9/11 families. | "The concern that I've had has nothing to do with Saudi Arabia per se or my sympathy for 9/11 families. |
| "It has to do with me not wanting a situation where we're suddenly exposed to liabilities for all the work that we're doing all around the world and suddenly finding ourselves subject to private lawsuits." | "It has to do with me not wanting a situation where we're suddenly exposed to liabilities for all the work that we're doing all around the world and suddenly finding ourselves subject to private lawsuits." |
| But families of the victims and their lawyers have dismissed these concerns. | |
| "We rejoice in this triumph and look forward to our day in court and a time when we may finally get more answers regarding who was truly behind the attacks," said Terry Strada, national chair of the 9/11 Families & Survivors United for Justice Against Terrorism. | |
| 'Most embarrassing' | |
| Mr Obama suggested that his colleagues' voting patterns were influenced by political concerns. | Mr Obama suggested that his colleagues' voting patterns were influenced by political concerns. |
| "If you're perceived as voting against 9/11 families right before an election, not surprisingly, that's a hard vote for people to take. | "If you're perceived as voting against 9/11 families right before an election, not surprisingly, that's a hard vote for people to take. |
| "But it would have been the right thing to do." | "But it would have been the right thing to do." |
| The Senate voted 97-1 and the House of Representatives 348-77, meaning the bill becomes law. | The Senate voted 97-1 and the House of Representatives 348-77, meaning the bill becomes law. |
| White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters the vote was "the single most embarrassing thing the United States Senate has done" in decades. | White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters the vote was "the single most embarrassing thing the United States Senate has done" in decades. |
| But the measure's supporters contended the legislation only applies to acts of terrorism that have occurred on US soil - and side-swiped at Mr Obama for his perceived prioritising of relations with Saudi Arabia. | But the measure's supporters contended the legislation only applies to acts of terrorism that have occurred on US soil - and side-swiped at Mr Obama for his perceived prioritising of relations with Saudi Arabia. |
| "The White House and the executive branch (are) far more interested in diplomatic considerations," said Democratic New York Senator Chuck Schumer. | "The White House and the executive branch (are) far more interested in diplomatic considerations," said Democratic New York Senator Chuck Schumer. |
| "We're more interested in the families and in justice." | "We're more interested in the families and in justice." |