10 chapters across the catalog
A major lawsuit involving 800 victims' families and 1,500 first responders is moving forward against Saudi Arabia for alleged involvement in the 9/11 attacks. The legal action was made possible by the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA), which Congress passed by overriding President Obama's veto. The lawsuit alleges Saudi officials facilitated the hijackers' stay in the U.S.
Congress overrode President Obama's veto of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA), allowing 9/11 families to sue Saudi Arabia. The discussion touches on the original 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund managed by Kenneth Feinberg, which distributed $7 billion. The new law is seen as a threat to diplomatic relations and a potential catalyst for exposing Saudi financial ties to U.S. entities.
JASTA Veto Override, Saudi Arabia Bond Threat
Congress successfully overrode President Obama's first veto, passing the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA). The bill allows families of 9-11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia, despite previous threats from the Saudi government to sell $750 billion in U.S. treasury bonds if the legislation moved forward.
Senate Unity on JASTA, Harry Reid Holdout
The U.S. Senate voted 97 to 1 to override the presidential veto of JASTA, with Minority Leader Harry Reid being the sole dissenting vote. Supporters argue that if the Saudi government had no involvement in the 9-11 attacks, they should have nothing to fear from the legal discovery process.
JASTA Legal Debate, Foreign Sovereign Immunity Act
Lawyer Jack Quinn, representing 9-11 families, argued on PBS NewsHour that JASTA restores the principle that foreign governments aiding terrorist attacks on U.S. soil should be held accountable. The debate centers on whether the Foreign Sovereign Immunity Act should protect nations like Saudi Arabia from civil litigation.
Obama Town Hall, Haiti and Philippines Examples
During a town hall, President Obama criticized JASTA, using hypothetical examples of U.S. liability for traffic accidents during disaster relief in Haiti or the Philippines. Critics argue Obama is misrepresenting the bill, which specifically targets state-sponsored terrorism, not accidental deaths during humanitarian missions.
President Obama vetoed the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA), which would have allowed 9/11 victims' families to sue Saudi Arabia. While the bill passed both houses of Congress, Obama argued it undermines U.S. interests, despite the release of the "28 pages" linking Saudi individuals to the hijackers.
Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, Saudi Veto
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill allowing 9-11 victims' families to sue Saudi Arabia, following the Senate's earlier approval. President Obama has threatened to veto the legislation, citing concerns over sovereign immunity and potential retaliatory lawsuits against the United States in foreign courts. Saudi Arabia has reportedly threatened to sell $750 billion in U.S. assets if the bill becomes law.
President Obama visits Saudi Arabia amid tensions over the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA). The bill would allow 9/11 families to sue the Saudi government for allegedly financing the hijackers, a claim bolstered by the classified "28 pages" of the 9/11 Commission Report.
White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest signals a potential veto of the JASTA bill, citing concerns over reciprocal legal risks for U.S. diplomats and service members. Meanwhile, "Document 17" is highlighted as a declassified record linking 9/11 hijackers to the Saudi Embassy in Washington.
