Obama to veto 9/11 victims bill

US President Barack Obama is set to veto a bill that would allow survivors and families of victims of the September 11, 2001, terror attacks to sue Saudi Arabia, the White House said on Monday.

“That’s still the plan,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest said when asked if the President planned to veto the bill.

The White House had previously suggested Obama would not sign the bill when it first passed the Senate in May saying it would complicate diplomatic relations, CNN reported.

On Friday, the House of Representatives passed the bill by voice vote.

Earnest defended the administration’s stance against the bill saying it was not “an effective, forceful way for us to respond to terrorism”.

Lawmakers were expected to attempt to override the veto, and if successful, would mark the first time in Obama’s presidency, CNN noted.

Earnest said the bill has not yet been presented to Obama who has 10 days to veto the bill before it becomes law automatically.

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