Senate Defies Saudis by Passing Bill to Let 9/11 Victims Sue
- Bill passes after U.S. disclosed size of Saudi Treasury stake
- Saudi Arabia reportedly threatened to sell its U.S. debt
A U.S. flag flies in front of the dome of the U.S. Capitol on Feb. 12, 2013, on in Washington.
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The Senate passed legislation Tuesday allowing Sept. 11 victims and their families to sue other countries for their role in the attacks, defying White House objections and reported threats by Saudi Arabia to sell its U.S. debt holdings.
The move comes one day after the U.S. Treasury Department disclosed the size of Saudi Arabia’s stake for the first time in 41 years -- putting its debt holdings at $116.8 billion.