Military Court Upholds Plea Deals Sparing 9/11 Masterminds from Death Penalty, Overruling Defense Secretary

Dec 31, 2024, 04:03 PM

A military appeals court has ruled against Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's attempt to revoke plea agreements for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Walid bin Attash, and Mustafa al-Hawsawi, the alleged masterminds behind the September 11, 2001 attacks. The court upheld the plea deals, stating that Austin acted beyond his authority when he rescinded them. The agreements would have the three men plead guilty to war crimes in exchange for being spared the death penalty. This decision reinstates the plea deals and puts them back on track.