The White House has censured the US Congress for having “buyer’s remorse” over overriding President Barack Obama’s veto of legislation allowing relatives of the victims of the September 11, 2001, attacks to sue Saudi Arabia.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest made the remarks on Thursday during a press conference after two high-ranking Republican lawmakers suggested the bill needed changes.
On Wednesday, Senators voted 97-1 in favor of the “Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA),” which was vetoed by Obama last week. Only Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, Democrat of Nevada, voted to sustain the president’s veto.
Hours later, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted against the presidential decree, 348 to 77. Only 18 Republicans and 59 Democrats voted not to override the veto.
“Well, it’s hard to know where to start,” Earnest said. “I think what we’ve seen in the United States Congress is a case of…