A military judge has ruled that plea agreements struck by alleged Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two co-defendants are valid, voiding an order by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to throw out the deals. The plea agreements would spare Mohammed and the others the risk of the death penalty in exchange for guilty pleas in the long-running 9/11 case.
The agreements were negotiated by government prosecutors with defense attorneys under government auspices and had been approved by the top official for the military commission at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The decision to uphold the plea agreements has come after Austin's attempt to reverse them, which sparked political backlash when announced in late July.
The ruling by Air Force Col. Matthew McCall concluded that Austin lacked the authority to nullify the deals, calling the timing of his move 'fatal' as the top official at Guantanamo had already approved the agreements. The Pentagon is currently reviewing the judge's decision and has refrained from further comment at this time.
This development marks a significant turn in the ongoing legal proceedings related to the 9/11 attacks, which have been marred by delays and challenges, including the admissibility of statements made by the defendants during their time in CIA custody. The judge's decision, though not yet publicly posted, is expected to have far-reaching implications on the high-profile case.
As the situation continues to unfold, the military officials are expected to provide more clarity on the next steps in the legal process. Stay tuned for further updates on this evolving story.
