Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin quashes recently reached plea deal for accused 9/11 plotters

WASHINGTON, DC: US Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, has revoked a recently reached plea deal for the alleged mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, and two other defendants, Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarak Bin ‘Attash and Mustafa Ahmed Adam al-Hawsawi.

The decision, detailed in a memo sent to Susan Escallier, who oversees the war court proceedings, reinstates the death penalty cases for these individuals, as reported by The Guardian.

This reversal marks a significant shift from the short-lived plea agreement that defense lawyers had negotiated, seeking life sentences in exchange for guilty pleas.

Lloyd Austin revokes plea deal for accused plotters of 9/11 attacks

In his memo, Lloyd Austin emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, "Due to the significance of the decision to enter into pre-trial agreements with the accused in the above-referenced case, responsibility for such a decision should rest with me as the superior convening authority."

His action comes as a response to concerns that the initial plea deal would deny a full trial and the possibility of death sentences, a point of contention for some victims' families.

For example, Terry Kay Rockefeller, whose sister Laura was killed in the attacks, expressed mixed feelings about the plea deal.

"I would have liked a trial of men who hadn’t been tortured, but we got handed a really poor opportunity for justice, and this is a way to verdicts and finality," she told the Washington Post.

The deal had sparked outrage among Republican lawmakers, including Mitch McConnell, JD Vance, and New York congresswoman Elise Stefanik, who accused the Biden-Harris administration of betraying the American people.

The original plea agreement had its supporters, such as J Wells Dixon, a staff attorney at the Center for Constitutional Rights. Dixon, who has represented Guantanamo Bay detainees, argued that the plea bargains were the only practical solution to resolve the legally complicated 9/11 cases.

He accused Austin of "bowing to political pressure and pushing some victim family members over an emotional cliff" by rescinding the deals.

The negotiations for a plea deal had been ongoing for over a year, with President Joe Biden previously blocking a proposed bargain. The President declined to promise that the individuals would avoid isolation or receive psychological support for the mistreatment they endured during their detention by intelligence authorities.

A senior Pentagon official clarified that neither the president nor vice president was involved in Austin's decision to reverse the deal. The defendants, including Mohammed, were expected to formally enter their pleas under the original agreement as early as the following week.

Lloyd Austin garners praise online in wake of his decision to revoke plea deal

The internet reacted swiftly to Lloyd Austin's decision, with many praising his stance.

One X user commented, "Jesus Christ someone with a moral compass in the @WhiteHouse after all."

Another remarked, "He’s actually starting to get a lot right lately."

A third user added, "Whoa! Someone just showed their backbone! Thank you, Sir… maybe you do deserve this job."

A tweet read, "It may be Austin's finest moment."

A user said, "Finally someone in the Biden administration with some sense! I applaud this."

Another praised Austin, stating, "Good for him! It's about time someone did something that makes sense."

One remarked, "Well, we know at least one leader in DC is working for the People!"

Another said, "@SecDef, bravo Sec Austin. Justice justice!!!"

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.