Judge Reinstates Plea Deals for 9/11 Mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Overruling Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin

Nov 7, 2024, 03:07 AM

A military judge has reinstated plea deals for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind behind the September 11 attacks, and two other defendants. The plea agreements, previously voided by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, would allow the accused to plead guilty in exchange for life sentences, sparing them the death penalty. The judge ruled that the agreements are valid and that Austin's attempt to rescind them was untimely, calling the timing 'fatal,' as it occurred after Guantanamo's top official had already approved the deals. The judge determined that she has authority over the decisions of the Secretary of Defense in this matter. This development could mean that Mohammed and his co-defendants will avoid capital punishment for their roles in the 9/11 attacks, despite objections from the Pentagon.