The US senate has passed a bill allowing the families of 9/11 victims to file lawsuits against Saudi officials believed to be involved.
Although the bill, the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA), will still have to pass through the House of Representatives, it has already set in motion a strong feud between the US and Saudi Arabia.
According to the reports, the Saudi Foreign Minister says the bill passing could push Saudi Arabia to withdraw up to $750 billion in US investments. US President Barack Obama has announced he will veto the bill in the House, but according to the BBC, Democratic Senator is "confident" he'd be overruled.
Of the 19 men that hijacked four planes in 2001, 15 were Saudi citizens, but the nation’s officials have always denied any involvement in the memorable incident. A US Commission also concluded, in months following the tragic attacks, that the Saudi government had no involvement.
Families of the victims could now be able to use the courts to hold responsible members of the Saudi royal family, Saudi banks and charities. Until now, a 1976 law has prevented this, as it gave foreign nations immunity to lawsuits from US courts.
