US Senate Override of Veto of 9/11 Lawsuit Bill 'Embarrassing' - White House

The US Senate vote to override President Barack Obama's veto of a bill allowing families of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks’ victims to sue Saudi Arabia is "embarrassing," White House spokesperson Josh Earnest told reporters on board Air Force One on Wednesday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Earlier on Wednesday, the Senate voted 97-1 to override Obama's veto of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) bill. The US House of Representatives could vote to override the veto as earlier as Wednesday afternoon.

The Obama administration opposed the act arguing it could harm US relationships abroad and make Americans vulnerable to foreign lawsuits.

JASTA is strongly supported by the families of 9/11 victims who have a long-standing lawsuit against Saudi Arabia for allegedly supporting the hijackers involved in the attacks. The lawsuit was dismissed in 2015 on account of Saudi claims to sovereign immunity.