US House to Vote Friday on Bill Allowing 9/11 Families to Sue Saudi Arabia

The US House of Representatives will vote on Friday on the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA), US Congressman from New York State and bill sponsor Peter King told Sputnik.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik), Leandra Bernstein — "It will be Friday," King said on Wednesday of the vote on the bill allowing the families of September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks to bring a lawsuit against members of the Saudi Royal Family.

After passing the US Senate with unanimous approval in May, King stated he is "confident it will pass the House with a big vote."

President Barack Obama has threatened to veto JASTA if it passes both houses of Congress, but King said he is hopeful "the president will do the right thing" and sign the bill into law.

If enacted, JASTA would allow a US citizen to bring suit and seek damages from any foreign nation that provides material support for a terror attack on US soil or against US persons.

The bill would override current Saudi claims to diplomatic immunity, which have prevented families of victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks from proceeding with a long-standing federal court case alleging Saudi support for the attacks.