Obama vetoes 9/11 bill; possible override by Congress looms

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama nixed a bill Friday that would have allowed the families of 9/11 victims to sue the government of Saudi Arabia, arguing it undermined national security and setting up the possibility that Congress might override his veto for the first time.

The White House said the bill could open up the U.S. government to lawsuits by anyone accusing the U.S. of supporting terrorism, rightly or wrongly.

Themove paves theway for Congress to try to override the veto, which requires a two-thirds vote in the House and Senate.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., indicated Thursday that there was support there to override Obama’s veto. The White House has worked to peel off supporters and said Friday an override’s fate was unclear.