WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court refused Monday to hear an appeal brought by families and insurers of victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. It was an effort to link the Saudi royal family to the financing of al-Qaeda and terrorism.
The decision lets stand a lower court ruling that found Saudi Arabia and members of the royal family could not be sued in American court because of a 1976 law granting sovereign immunity to foreign countries.
The Obama administration angered some victims’ families last month by supporting the Saudis’ claim to immunity, citing among other factors the significant diplomatic implications.
The families can pursue claims against Saudi financial institutions, charities and other groups not directly tied to the Saudi government or the royal family.
