Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin introduced Friday that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind behind the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist assaults, withdrew a plea settlement beforehand reached along with his two co-conspirators, Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarak bin Attash and Mustafa Ahmed. Adam Al Hawsawi.
The choice successfully reinstated the potential for the demise penalty for the three.
Gateway Pundit beforehand reported that the plea settlement – reached between the army fee’s convening authority and the defendants – was signed by Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Walid Mohammed Salih Mubarak bin Attash and Mustafa Ahmed Adam Al Hawsawi, and retired Brig. Basic Susan Okay. Escalier—was meant to mitigate authorized repercussions for the accused whereas permitting them to keep away from the demise penalty.
Particulars relating to the phrases of the deal weren’t disclosed.
Secretary Austin’s announcement comes beneath stress from political events and advocacy teams who argue that any leniency for these concerned within the 9/11 assaults undermines justice for the almost 3,000 victims and their households.
“I’ve decided that, in gentle of the importance of the choice to enter into pretrial agreements with the defendants within the above-mentioned case, the accountability for such resolution rests with me because the superior convening authority beneath the Army Fee Act of 2009,” Austin wrote.
“Efficient instantly, I hereby revoke your authority within the above-mentioned circumstances to enter right into a pre-trial settlement and reserve such authority to myself. Efficient instantly, in train of my authority, I hereby revoke the three pre-trial agreements you signed on July 31, 2024 within the above-mentioned circumstances,” he added.
The New York Instances reported:
Mr. Austin was touring overseas and returned to america later that day.
By then, prosecutors within the case had alerted members of the family of the assault victims, a few of whom expressed frustration and anger, that the demise penalty was now not doable. So did Republican leaders.
A senior Pentagon official mentioned the choice was Secretary Ecker’s alone and the White Home had no involvement. The official mentioned Mr. Austin by no means supported a plea deal and needed the army fee trial to proceed.
Mr. Austin’s transfer was met with disbelief by attorneys at Guantanamo Bay who have been getting ready for a listening to, presumably as quickly as Wednesday, earlier than the choose within the case, Col. Matthew N. McCall, to ask Mr. Mohammed if he understood and voluntarily agreed to the plea.
“If the Secretary of Protection points such an order, I’m respectfully and deeply disillusioned that in spite of everything these years the federal government has not realized the teachings of this case and the mischief that outcomes from the neglect of due course of and honest play,” mentioned Gary D. Sowards, Mr. Mohammed’s chief protection counsel.
