9/11 families hail Obama veto override
Since Terry Strada’s husband was killed in the World Trade Center attacks, she has raised their three children on her own and fought to bring Saudi Arabia to court.
“They’ve grown up without a dad, one child that has memories of him, and one child that has no memories of him. It’s been very difficult,” Strada said.
As of Wednesday, Strada and other families of those killed on September 11 can sue Saudi Arabia, whose officials they suspect may have assisted the terrorists. Fifteen of the 19 hijackers were Saudi-born.
“This might close a chapter to the pain that we have been suffering, but I really fight this fight because I’m raising children in post 9/11 world,” she said.
Both houses of Congress voted to override President Obama’s veto of the bill Wednesday, the first successful override of his presidency.
But the Obama Administration is concerned that the law will expose the United States to similar lawsuits against U.S. troops, diplomats and businesses.
Speaking at a CNN town hall, President Obama said Congress was wrong to override his veto.
“I wish Congress had done what’s hard. I didn’t expect it, because voting -- if you’re perceived as voting against 9/11 families right before an election, not surprisingly, that’s a hard vote for people to take,” Obama said.
“But it would have been the right thing to do.”
But for Strada, she feels it is the right vote for her and her children.
“I’m going to tell them that the truth will prevail, that accountability will prevail, and that justice will be served,” Strada said.