Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) released the following statement after the Senate voted to override President Barack Obama’s veto of S. 2040, the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA):

“Today I voted to override the President’s veto of S.2040, the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA).  I chose to support the motion to override after hearing from supporters of this bill, including the families of the 9/11 victims, and considering the concerns that have been raised by the Administration about the bill’s potential unintended consequences on our national security and foreign policy.

Ultimately I believe that the families who lost loved ones on 9/11 should have their day in court. Although I supported passage of the bill, I have grave concerns about the dangerous precedent of opening foreign sovereign immunity. I believe our national security and foreign policy could be put in jeopardy if reciprocal laws are enacted in other countries, with the potential to open U.S. citizens, officials, and service members to foreign lawsuits in which they could be required to disclose classified or sensitive information as part of court proceedings in other countries.

I have joined 27 of my colleagues in sending a bipartisan letter to the bills authors, Sens Schumer and Cornyn laying out our concerns about the legislation and seeking their commitment to work with us to mitigate any potential consequences of enacting this legislation.”

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