US Senate votes to allow 9/11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia

Senators unanimously approved the Justice Against Patrons of Terrorism Act which now heads to the House of Representatives, where reservations have been voiced by Speaker Paul Ryan.

The White House has repeatedly said that President Barack Obama, who visited the kingdom in a bid to soothe strained ties in April, opposes the law because it’d basically waive the doctrine of sovereign immunity.

“This laws would alter longstanding, international law regarding sovereign immunity. And the president of the United States continues to harbor serious concerns that this legislation would make the United States vulnerable in other court systems all over the world,” White House spokesperson Josh Earnest said.

He clarified that the United States was more participated globally “than some other nation on the planet,” especially in peacekeeping and humanitarian operations.

Undermining exemption, he said, would place Americans working abroad at risk.