Reid is sole senator to back Obama’s 9/11 veto

by Jordain Carney - 09/28/16 12:43 PM ET

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Wednesday was the only senator to vote to uphold President Obama’s veto of a bill letting families of 9/11 victims sue Saudi Arabia.

{mosads}Reid did so after Obama made a personal appeal for the leader, who is retiring at the end of this Congress, to support his veto.

Obama spoke to Reid on the phone about the legislation this week and sent him a letter on Tuesday.

Reid offered no explanation for his vote on the Senate floor. He had earlier voiced support for the legislation, and predicted Tuesday that senators would override the president’s veto.

The Senate voted 97-1 to override Obama’s veto of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA), which passed both chambers of Congress unanimously earlier this year.

The legislation now goes to the House, where lawmakers are expected to take it up this week.

No Senate Democrats defended the president’s veto on the floor in the hours leading up to the vote, while a handful, including Sens. Charles Schumer (N.Y.) and Ben Cardin (Md.), voiced support for overriding Obama’s veto.

“Our constituents and our fellow citizens are asking for a path to justice. This legislation creates that path, and having weighed both sides carefully, I am compelled to uphold it,” said Cardin, the ranking member on the Foreign Relations Committee, who had previously been undecided.

Tags Ben Cardin Chuck Schumer Harry Reid