Seven news organizations have filed a legal motion urging the U.S. military commission at Guantanamo Bay to make public the plea agreement reached with alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two co-defendants. The plea agreements, which were sealed shortly after being filed last month, have sparked controversy and objections from Republican lawmakers and families of the victims of the 2001 attacks.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's decision to revoke the deal, following two years of negotiations between government prosecutors and defense attorneys overseen by his department, has led to disruptions in the ongoing pretrial hearings at Guantanamo. The three defendants have suspended their participation in further proceedings, with their lawyers raising concerns about the legality of Austin's intervention.
