Congress voted on Wednesday to override President Obama’s veto of legislation that allows family members of Sept. 11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia over its alleged role in the attacks, marking the first congressional override of his presidency.
The House approved the override in a 348 to 77 vote, just hours after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) became the sole senator to side with the president in the chamber’s 97 to 1 vote.
White House spokesman Josh Ernest earlier in the day called the Senate’s rejection of Obama’s veto "the most embarrassing thing" the chamber had done in decades.
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, along with a number of 9/11 families, believe Saudi Arabia had a hand in the Sept. 11 attacks given that 15 of the 19 terrorists who participated were Saudi. Saudi Arabia has denied involvement in the attacks and Riyadh has never been formally implicated.
CIA Director John Brennan warned that a rejection of Obama’s veto would pave the way for nations hostile to the U.S. to detain American officials, including military members, over alleged crimes.
"The most damaging consequence would be for those U.S. government officials who dutifully work overseas on behalf of our country," Brennan said in a statement. "The principle of sovereign immunity protects U.S. officials every day, and is rooted in reciprocity."
Obama vetoed the legislation Friday, arguing the bill would set a dangerous precedent that endangers American officials abroad and impedes the president’s ability to engage in foreign policy.
The bill could also harm the country’s relationship with Saudi Arabia, a longtime U.S. ally.
The legislation smoothly passed both chambers of Congress through a voice vote with little congressional debate.
As recently as Tuesday, some members began voicing concerns about the bill. Sen. Bob Corker (R., Tenn.) said the bill would essentially "export" U.S. foreign policy to trial lawyers.
"We have more involvements around the world than any country; we’ve got assets deployed all around the world more than any country. So if sovereign immunity recedes, we’re the nation that is most exposed," Corker told NPR on Tuesday.
Still, he voted to reject Obama’s veto.