The U.S. marks the 9/11 attack on the twin World Trade Center Towers that took place 15 years ago. In memory of the occasion, Donald Trump claimed that he could have ended Osama Bin Laden’s reign of terror. However, Congress has a different approach.
The House of Representatives voted to allow victims of the 9/11 attack to sue foreign citizens as well as the countries involved.
The Senate had earlier approved the bill. In other words, the affected families can bring legal action against Saudi Arabia. There is common belief that the Arab nation played a role in the worst terror attack on U.S. soil in recent years.
As a precursor to the bill, the NY Post had earlier released a report highlighting cover-up by the United States government. The report claims that the federal government conveniently opted to overlook how some officials from the Saudi government bankrolled the hijackers.
Congress would later release a report on the 9/11 attack but with 28 pages missing. These pages contain huge portions that were blacked out. However, Congress pointed an accusing finger at the government’s intelligence bodies for not rising up to the occasion on the matter.
Congress acknowledged that victims of the tragedy could sue. Doing so would not dent the diplomatic ties between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia. Nonetheless, Prof. Jack Goldsmith, who teaches law at Harvard noted that the bill could turn out to be harmful.
The legislation derives its strength from a law enacted in 1976. That law protects foreigners in the U.S. from being sued. This time round, an amendment to the law allows for legal action against countries that take part in terror attacks on American soil. Moreover, Americans can claim financial compensation from people who fund such attacks.
According to CNN, President Barrack Obama will not assent to the bill. If he did, it would harm ties between the U.S. and other countries.
Source:
A Bill Allowing 9/11 Victims To Sue Saudi Arabia Was Just Approved By The U.S. House
