WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama on Friday vetoed legislation that could have allowed lawsuits by 9/11 families against Saudi Arabia, saying it "does not contribute to these goals, does not enhance the safety of Americans from terrorist attacks, and undermines core U.S. interests."
The Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act would allow lawsuits against foreign governments that may support terrorist groups. One unanswered question about 9/11 is whether the terrorists had help from elements in the Saudi government.
The legislation had such overwhelming support in both houses of Congress that it passed both chambers by voice vote. Lawmakers can override the president's veto by a two-thirds majority of both houses.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Friday that Obama was "not blind to the politics of this situation," but was "willing to take some political heat" because of the threat the bill posed to national security.
"We certainly are counting votes and having a number of conversations with members of Congress in both parties in both houses of Congress," Earnest said.
U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), and Reps. Albio Sires (D-8th Dist.), Bill Pascrell Jr. (D-9th Dist.) and all six House Republicans from New Jersey co-sponsored the bill.
"I know some of those names and I know all of those communities," said one of the New Jersey co-sponsors, Rep. Leonard Lance (R-7th Dist.). "They deserve their day in court."
A 28-page section of an congressional investigation into the terrorist attacks, declassified earlier this year, said, "While in the United States, some of the September 11 hijackers were in contact with, and received support or assistance from, individuals who may be connected to the Saudi government."
Even so, the separate 9/11 commission, chaired by former New Jersey Gov. Tom Kean, concluded, "Saudi Arabia has long been considered the primary source of al Qaeda funding, but we have found no evidence that the Saudi government as an institution or senior Saudi officials individually funded the organization."
In vetoing the bill, Obama said that stripping foreign governments of protection from lawsuits could entice those in other countries to sue U.S. officials.
"Removing sovereign immunity in U.S. courts from foreign governments that are not designated as state sponsors of terrorism, based solely on allegations that such foreign governments' actions abroad had a connection to terrorism-related injuries on U.S. soil, threatens to undermine these longstanding principles that protect the United States, our forces, and our personnel," Obama said.
His veto instantly became an issue in the presidential campaign. Hillary Clinton, who represented New York in the U.S. Senate on 9/11, "would sign this legislation if it came to her desk," spokesman Jesse Lehrich told CNN.
Republican nominee Donald Trump said the veto "will go down as one of the low points of his presidency," and that he would sign the bill as president.
"That President Obama would deny the parents, spouses and children of those we lost on that horrific day the chance to close this painful chapter in their lives is a disgrace," he said.
Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook