Sunday marks the 15-year-anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, and on Friday — despite objections from the White House — the House passed bipartisan legislation by a voice vote allowing families of victims of the attacks to sue Saudi Arabia.
The Senate passed similar legislation in May, setting Congress on a collision course with the White House.
The vote marks the latest development spurred by a series of events that have unveiled likely association by senior Saudi officials with some of the Sept. 11 hijackers.
Speaker Paul D. Ryan, R-Wis., sought to avail concerns the legislation will imperil U.S. interests.
[READ: 15 Years After 9/11, the TSA Is Still Falling Short]
“This bill passed overwhelmingly in the U.S. Senate so I think that those concerns have been taken under consideration and members are acting accordingly,” Ryan said.
“There are always diplomatic considerations that get in the way of justice, but if a court proves the Saudis were complicit in 9/11, they should be held accountable,” said Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., a sponsor of the Senate bill. “If they’ve done nothing wrong, they have nothing to worry about.”
The White House had no comment Friday. The Obama administration cautions that if U.S. citizens can sue the Saudis, then a foreign country could then in turn sue the United States. Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir has warned that if the bill became law, the country would sell $750 billion in American assets, including U.S. Treasury securities.
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House Passes Bill Allowing Victims? Families to Sue Saudi Arabia Over 9/11 originally appeared on usnews.com
