White House reiterates vow to veto bill that would allow 9/11 victim families to sue Saudi Arabia for role in attacks

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A commemoration ceremony is held for the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum fifteen years after the day on Sept. 11, 2016.
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U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton arrives for ceremonies to mark the 15th anniversary of the September 11 attacks at the National 9/11 Memorial.
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Mourners hold a photo of their loved one during the 15th anniversary of the attacks of the World Trade Center at the National September 11 Memorial.
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Guests sit near the memorial before the start of the ceremony marking the 15th anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center, at The National September 11 Memorial and Museum.
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A victim's portrait is carried by a loved one as the 15th Anniversary of September 11 ceremony is held at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.
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A member of the New York Police Department's (NYPD) Emerald Society Pipe & Drum Band looks at memorial before the start of the ceremony marking the 15th anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center.
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President Obama had repeatedly said he would veto the bill, but Earnest's comments are the first from the White House since the passage last week.
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A woman hugs a man during a commemoration ceremony for the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2016.
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A sign to commemorate Danielle Kousoulis is held up by a loved one during a commemoration ceremony for the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum.
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A man sits near the September 11 memorial during the annual commemoration service for the victims, 15 years since the horrific attacks.
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People get emotional as the names of the victims are read during a commemoration ceremony for the victims of the September 11 attacks, 15 years later.
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Attendees hold photographs of lost family members during the September 11 Commemoration Ceremony at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum on September 11, 2016.
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Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, center, arrives to attend a ceremony at the National September 11 Memorial on Sept. 11, 2016.
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A mourner holds a photo of her loved one during an emotional commemoration ceremony in honor of those lost during the attacks on Sept. 11, 2016.
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Firefighters gather at the World Trade Center site on the 15th anniversary of the attacks for a memorial service on Sept. 11, 2016.
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A mourner holds a photo of her loved one along with beautiful flowers as she joins hundreds of others who also lost loved ones 15 years ago during the attacks.
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People gather at the South Pool of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum on the 15th anniversary of the attacks on Sept. 11, 2016.
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Signs of lost loved ones can be seen in the crowd as the annual commemoration ceremony for the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks begins.

PUBLISHED: September 12, 2016 at 6:54 p.m. | UPDATED: April 8, 2018 at 5:52 p.m.

The White House reiterated Monday its vow to veto legislation recently passed by the House that would allow the families of 9/11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia over the horrific attack.

“That is still the plan. The president does plan to veto this legislation,” White House Press Secretary said at his daily briefing Monday. “I do anticipate the president will veto the legislation when it is presented to him. It hasn’t been presented to him yet.”

“The way this bill is currently written exposes the U.S. … to significant risks in courts across the world,” Earnest added, repeating his boss’s rationale for his opposition to the measure. “The President believes that it’s important to look out for our country, our service members and our diplomats and allowing this bill to come into law would increase the risk that they face,” Earnest added.

The House passed the legislation, named the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA), Friday by a unanimous voice vote. The Senate passed the bill in May, also by unanimous voice vote.

President Obama had repeatedly said he would veto the bill, but Earnest’s comments are the first from the White House since the passage last week.

The legislation would permit the family members to file suit against the Saudi government for any possible role that its officials played in the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Fifteen of the 19 terrorists involved in the 9/11 terror attacks were Saudi nationals.

Obama has warned that opening the door for lawsuits against the Saudis would leave the United State vulnerable to legal action brought by foreign nations.

The expected veto sets up an epic showdown between Congress and the White House that could very well result in the first veto override of Obama’s tenure.

A vote of two-thirds in both the House and the Senate would be necessary to override Obama’s promised veto.

The bill’s lead sponsors, Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) in the Senate and Reps. Peter King (R-N.Y.) and Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) have indicated they believe they have the votes for an override.

Victims and their families have sought to sue Saudi Arabia and some power players in the kingdom and have repeatedly pressured Obama to support the bill.

Most recently, several family members of 9/11 victims wrote an open letter published in the Daily News on Sunday urging the President Obama to sign the measure.