The Senate voted on Wednesday to override President Obama’s veto of a bill that would allow the families of victims of terrorism to sue foreign governments potentially connected to the attacks.
The vote was 97-1, with Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) solely voting against the veto.
This is the first congressional override of an Obama veto. The president had vetoed the bill on Friday. His aides voiced sympathy for the intention of the bill–to allow 9/11 victims to sue the Saudi Arabian government over its alleged involve in the attack. Claims of Riyadh’s complicity stem from 15 of the 19 hijackers being Saudi, although Saudi Arabia has denied any involvement and has never been formally implicated.
Obama and the Pentagon have warned that the bill could allow other foreign governments to sue the United States and members of the military for actions overseas. An advocacy group representing Iraqis killed or wounded by American forces threatened this week to sue the U.S. government for war crimes, saying the 9/11 bill gives "a window of opportunity" to launch the lawsuit.
Critics of the bill also caution that the measure, if passed, could hurt relations with Saudi Arabia, a longtime U.S. ally.
The bill had initially passed the Senate by a voice vote. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.) has said there could be a legislative fix to the bill after it becomes law to address concerns voiced by some of its opponents.