The Democratic leaders of the US Senate say the chamber is likely to override President Barack Obama’s promised veto of a bill that allows families of the 9/11 victims to sue the Saudi government for damages.
The comments were made on Tuesday, prompting a move that would mark the first override of an Obama veto since he took office in January 2009.
The US Senate unanimously approved the bill, known as Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, in May, despite speculations that it could strain relations between Washington and Riyadh.
House Speaker Paul Ryan had also said in April that the bill needed to be reviewed “to make sure we are not making mistakes with our allies and that we’re not catching people in this that shouldn’t be caught up in this.”
The White House then signaled that Obama would veto the legislation.
This is while top Democratic leaders have reiterated their support for the bill, with Harry Reid, the Senate’s Democratic leader,…