The White House on Tuesday reiterated its threat of a veto on legislation that would allow Americans to sue the government of Saudi Arabia for any role it played in the 9/11 terror attacks.
The Senate unanimously approved the bill Tuesday, but White House press secretary Josh Earnest said late adjustments are not enough to satisfy the administration’s problems with the measure.
“Given the concerns we have expressed, it’s difficult to imagine the president signing this legislation,” Earnest told reporters.
The legislation would allow victims of terror attacks on U.S. soil or their families to take legal action against foreign governments that support terrorism.
Earnest repeated concerns that the measure could lead to retaliation from foreign governments, leaving American citizens abroad at risk to lawsuits or prosecution.
The spokesman said senators’ efforts to revise the bill “were not sufficient to prevent the longer-term unintended consequences we are concerned about.”
“This legislation would change longstanding international law regarding sovereign immunity, and the president of the United States continues to harbor serious concerns” about its potential effect on American travelers, diplomats and military service members, he added.
While the measure has passed the Senate, its future is unclear in the House. Speaker Paul Ryan has echoed the White House’s skepticism about the legislation.
Earnest last month said he was “gratified” by the Wisconsin Republican’s comments on the measure.