Congress pushes law to let 9/11 families sue Saudi Arabia

Congress is poised to pass a new law aimed at making it easier for families of the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks to extract financial damages from countries accused of sponsoring terrorism — including Saudi Arabia.

The bi-partisan legislation seeks to close loopholes in the current law that has enabled foreign state defendants, such as Saudi Arabia, to argue that they are not subject to “aiding and abetting” claims of backing terrorism.

“There are a few days in a nation’s history that truly redefine its way of life; for our nation, September 11th, 2001, was one of those days,” said Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ), chief sponsor of the bill, Ensuring Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act, said Thursday.

Of the 19 Al Qaeda terrorists who hijacked four airliners on the morning of September 11, 2001, 15 were citizens of Saudi Arabia — including mastermind Osama bin Laden, a member of one of the kingdom’s wealthiest families, though he was later expelled for anti-government activities.

“These necessary technical changes will ensure that the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act can truly fulfill its goal of delivering justice for American victims of foreign-sponsored terror,” added Van Drew.

The bill is co-sponsored by most of the New York congressional delegation — including Reps. Jerrold Nadler (D-Manhattan) and Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn).

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) is pushing the bill in the upper house with backing from New York’s Senators — Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand.

Advocates for 9/11 families applauded the move by lawmakers to help continue the legal fight for justice and accountability.

“This is important legislation that fulfills Congress’s original promise of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, and we are pleased to see the House working quickly towards enacting it so that we can continue our pursuit for accountability,” said Terry Strada, National Chair of 9/11 Families United.

Her husband, Tom, was killed in the World Trade Center’s North Tower.

Strada has accused Saudi Arabia of “sports washing” their reputation through the Saudi-monarchy-backed LIV Golf, a professional golf league.

Whether victims will ever be able to prove that foreign countries such as Saudi Arabia or other countries aided and abetted the 9/11 terrorists who toppled the Twin Towers and killed about 3,000 people remains to be seen.

To date, no litigants in JASTA-related cases have recovered damages.

The legal debate remains highly controversial, though.

Former President Barack Obama vetoed the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act enabling 9/11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia back in 2016, arguing it undermines sovereign immunity and could come back to haunt the U.S.

He said the bill would be “detrimental to U.S. national interests” and could lead to lawsuits against the U.S. or American officials for actions taken by groups armed, trained, or supported by America.

But in a rare move, both houses of Congress voted to easily override Obama’s veto.

“Overriding a presidential veto is something we don’t take lightly, but it was important in this case that the families of the victims of 9/11 be allowed to pursue justice, even if that pursuit causes some diplomatic discomforts,” Senator Charles Schumer said after the vote.