A U.S. military judge at Guantanamo Bay has set hearings for alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two co-defendants to enter guilty pleas in exchange for life sentences. The move by Judge Matthew McCall signals a deepening battle over the independence of the military commission at the naval base.
The plea hearings are scheduled to take place over two weeks starting January 6, with Mohammed expected to enter his plea first. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is seeking to scuttle the plea agreements, which would put the prosecution efforts back on track for a trial that carries the risk of the death penalty.
