MEDIA ADVISORY
VICTIMS OF 1998 U.S. EMBASSY BOMBINGS SPEAK AT SUPREME COURT
SCOTUS TO RULE ON PUNITIVE DAMAGES AGAINST SUDAN FOR ROLE IN ATTACKS
WHO: Victims of the 1998 U.S. Embassy bombings
WHAT: Press conference following Supreme Court arguments on punitive damages against Sudan for its role in the 1998 U.S. Embassy bombing
WHEN: February 24, 2020, Noon (immediately following 11 a.m. hearing)
WHERE: At the base of U.S. Supreme Court steps, 1 First St NE, Washington, DC 20543
Embassy employees and families of those killed or injured in the 1998 embassy bombings will hold a press conference immediately following oral arguments on Monday, February 24. Victims will share their personal stories, reaction to the oral arguments, and their expectations for what will follow. The press conference should begin around noon at the base of the Supreme Court steps.
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments to reinstate the $4.3 billion punitive damages against Sudan for its central role in the 1998 al Qaeda bombings of the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. Sudan has already been ordered to pay $5.9 billion in compensatory damages.
The U.S. Solicitor General asked for time during oral arguments to argue that the Court should rule in favor of the victims--both as a matter of law and because upholding these damages protects an important tool for U.S. foreign policy and national security.
The arguments before the Supreme Court come as Sudan’s new power-sharing government is pushing to get itself removed from the U.S. State Sponsors of Terrorism list. Congress and the Administration have stated that Sudan must satisfy the embassy bombing victims’ court-ordered judgments before Sudan can be delisted as a State Sponsors of Terrorism.
Sudan has continued to refuse to pay compensatory damages or enter into settlement negotiations with victims. But it has spent millions of dollars in legal fees to try to avoid payment and in lobbying fees to secure removal from the State Sponsor of Terrorism List.
Visit SudanTerrorVictims.org for a more detailed timeline of events, Q&A on significant questions related to the case and next steps for Sudan, and the latest press updates before and after oral arguments on the 24th.
For further details on the press conference or to schedule an interview with victims, please contact: Eric Sapp: esapp@eleisongroup.com, 703-863-6403