A recent plea from Zacarias Moussaoui, known as the '20th hijacker' in the 9/11 attacks, to be transferred from a federal Supermax prison in the U.S. to France has stirred controversy. In a letter to a Virginia judge, Moussaoui expressed fears of facing execution under a potential future administration led by Donald Trump.
Moussaoui, currently serving a life sentence at ADX Florence in Colorado, cited his cooperation with U.S. authorities against al Qaeda members as a reason for the transfer request. He raised concerns about the possibility of a presidential executive order for his death if Trump were to be reelected.
The letter highlighted France's opposition to the death penalty, drawing parallels to past extradition challenges involving individuals like Ira Einhorn. Moussaoui's tone in the letter contrasted with his behavior during his 2006 trial, where he displayed defiance and hostility.
Following the revelation of Moussaoui's request, a group of U.S. senators, including Marco Rubio and Rick Scott, condemned the plea and urged President Biden and Attorney General Merrick Garland to reject it. They emphasized that convicted terrorists should face justice in the country where their crimes were committed.
The Justice Department, while not commenting on specific transfer requests, affirmed its commitment to enforcing Moussaoui's life sentence for terrorism offenses within U.S. custody. The White House did not provide a response to inquiries regarding the matter.
The controversy surrounding Moussaoui's plea underscores the ongoing debate over the treatment of convicted terrorists and the complexities of international prisoner transfers.
