Justice for Victims: Legislation introduced to hold accountable financiers of 9/11 and future acts of terrorism

On Nov. 17, 2011, the Justice Against the Sponsors of Terrorism Act ("JASTA" or S. 1894) was introduced by Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) with cosponsors Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Jon Kyl (R-AZ), John Cornyn (R-TX) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).

JASTA would clarify current law and potentially provide swifter access to justice for all terrorist victims while supporting Congress' original intent to hold terrorist financiers accountable. It would do so by ensuring that those who support terrorism would have no chance of diplomatic immunity, regardless of who they are, and no legal loopholes because of where their money or help was given (e.g., outside of the United States). S. 1894 became necessary after the U.S. Court of Appeals of the Second Circuit erroneously ruled on two sections of anti-terrorism statute: The Foreign Services Immunity Act and the Anti-Terrorism Act.

The 9/11 Families United to Bankrupt terrorism will proceed with their lawsuit,Thomas E. Burnett, Sr., et al. v. Al Baraka Investment & Development Corp.(consolidated inIn re Terrorist Attacks on September 11, 2001, 03 MDL 1570), in the Southern District of New York. The 9/11 Families United to Bankrupt Terrorism is a group of more than 6,600 family members of those who were murdered on 9/11, as well as those injured in the attacks. They are united to both hold accountable the parties who financed and materially supported the Sept. 11, 2011, attacks and deter future acts of terrorism.

Read the JASTA press release issued on Nov. 17, 2011.

Learn more about this legislation in an article featured by Orlando Weekly, or visit http://www.justiceagainstterrorism.net/.