Josh Earnest called the new revelations an “abject embarrassment.” | AP Photo White House agog that lawmakers weighing fix to Saudi 9/11 legislation

The White House has heard senators say that they might need to fix legislation that became President Barack Obama’s first veto override. Obama's aides are not amused.

“It’s hard to take at face value the suggestion that they were unaware of the consequences of their vote, but even if they were, what’s true in elementary school is true in the United States Congress: Ignorance is not an excuse — particularly when it comes to our national security and the safety and security of our diplomats and our service members," White House press secretary Josh Earnest told reporters about the legislation that allows the families of victims of 9/11 sue Saudi Arabia.


"I’ll also say that it is hard to take that suggestion seriously, when the arguments made in this letter and in the public statements from some members of Congress are precisely the same arguments that senior administration officials made for months.”

Earnest appeared annoyed by suggestions from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and other members that the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, informally known as JASTA, may have unintended consequences and that fixes may be needed.

Obama and his cabinet had said before the veto override that the bill could leave U.S. officials and diplomats vulnerable to lawsuits overseas and that it would undo decades of U.S. foreign policy.

After saying the Senate’s 97-1 vote on Wednesday was the most embarrassing thing the body had done since 1983, Earnest called new revelations an “abject embarrassment.”

Only retiring Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid stuck with Obama on the veto override vote in the Senate, while a handful of Obama’s most ardent critics, including Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) voted to sustain the override in the House.

When asked if the vote is why Americans are fed up with Washington, Earnest said it was “exhibit A.”