Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin revoked the controversial plea deal for three men accused of planning the 9/11 attacks, withdrawing the authority of the official who negotiated the deal and taking the decision into his own hands. The deal was expected to lead to the accused pleading guilty to lesser charges in order to avoid the death penalty, but the details of the revoked deal remain unknown. Congressional Republicans praised Austin’s decision, with Rep. Michael McCaul and Sen. Lindsey Graham both commending the move. The head of 9/11 Justice, a group representing victims’ families, expressed frustration over not being consulted on the plea deal or its revocation.
The plea deal, negotiated by the accused, their attorneys, and a convening authority for military commissions, was met with criticism from families of victims and members of Congress. The House Oversight Committee announced an investigation into the White House’s role in the deal, while Rep. Mike Rogers and Speaker Mike Johnson expressed shock and anger over the situation. Former Attorney General Eric Holder criticized the deal, stating that those involved did the best they could under difficult circumstances. Holder had previously planned to bring the accused men to trial in federal court in Manhattan, but the slow progress through the military commissions system led to consideration of a federal trial.
Lloyd Austin’s decision to revoke the plea deal followed concerns raised by victims’ families, members of Congress, and former government officials. The three accused men, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarak Bin ‘Attash, and Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawsawi, were expected to enter guilty pleas under the revoked deal. Republicans in Congress welcomed the decision, stating that the accused individuals should face the death penalty for their alleged roles in the 9/11 attacks. The White House National Security Council declined to comment on the development, referring inquiries to the Defense Department, which also declined to provide additional information beyond the press release.
The revoked plea deal was seen as significant given the gravity of the charges against the accused men and the impact of the 9/11 attacks on the United States. The decision to withdraw the authority of the official who negotiated the deal underscores the sensitivity and complexity of the case. Families of victims expressed frustration over not being included in the discussions surrounding the plea deal, highlighting the emotional toll that the legal proceedings continue to take on those who lost loved ones in the attacks. The broader implications of the revocation of the plea deal remain to be seen as the case continues to unfold in the military commissions system.
