Janice R. Andrews
DALLAS, D.C. – In a stunning change of events, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III has reinstated the death sentence as a possible punishment and rejected a plea agreement for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the suspected mastermind of the 9/11 terror attacks, and his two senior lieutenants. The ruling, which was made public on Friday, overturns a plea deal that military prosecutors had presented earlier in the week.
Memo to retired Brigadier General Susan K. Escallier, “Effective immediately, I hereby withdraw your authority in the above-referenced case to enter into a pre-trial agreement and reserve such authority to myself,” was what Austin wrote.
The Case’s History
Without receiving a formal sentence, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his collaborators Walid Bin Attash and Mustafa al-Hawsawi have been held in Guantanamo Bay for almost 20 years. They were charged with planning the September 11, 2001 attacks in Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., and New York City, which resulted in the deaths of 2,976 people.
The Rejected Plea Agreement
The Department of Defense revealed earlier this week that the Office of Military Commissions was attempting to reach a plea agreement that would have spared Mohammed and his co-defendants’ lives. In exchange for not being executed, the three men would have had to enter guilty pleas to all counts in order to be sentenced to life in prison without the chance of release.
Different Responses from Families of 9/11
Reactions to Defense Secretary Austin’s abrupt turnaround have been varied among the relatives of the 9/11 victims. For years, some family members have been pushing for a plea deal in the hopes of obtaining closure via a final court decision.
Elizabeth Miller expressed her outrage, saying, “I feel like this back and forth is completely disrespectful to 9/11 families.” Elizabeth Miller’s father, Douglas Miller, was a New York City fireman who perished in the attacks. This has continued for the past thirteen years. When will it come to an end?”
On the other hand, others have applauded the return of the death penalty. Terry Strada applauded Austin’s choice. Her husband Tom passed away on the 104th level of the North Tower of the World Trade Center. “This development is fantastic,” Strada said. “I am very happy to see their plea deal revoked and the death penalty back on the table and hope justice will be served swiftly.” The plea agreement was earlier condemned by Strada, the National Chair of 9/11 Families United, who called it a “victory” for the 9/11 plotters.
Proposed Sentencing Details
In accordance with the now-void plea agreement, Mohammed and his accomplices would have appeared before a panel of military officials for a punishment hearing in the summer of 2025. Family members of the victims would have been able to testify and interrogate the defendants about their role in the assaults during this hearing. Many families saw great significance in this portion of the plea agreement, viewing it as an opportunity to get answers and closure.
Enhanced Interrogation’s Role
Most people agree that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was the main planner of the 9/11 attacks. The Senate Intelligence Committee’s 2014 report on the CIA’s detention and interrogation operations states that throughout his time in captivity, he was subjected to “enhanced interrogation techniques,” including 183 instances of waterboarding.
Government’s Position Regarding the Plea Deal
After 12 years of pre-trial litigation, military prosecutors said in a letter to the families of the 9/11 victims on Wednesday that they believed the plea agreement was the best way to bring justice and closure to the case. “The decision to enter into a pre-trial agreement after 12 years of pre-trial litigation was not reached lightly; however, it is our collective, reasoned, and good-faith judgment that this resolution is the best path to finality and justice,” the letter said.
Results
The argument over the appropriate way to bring those responsible for the 9/11 attacks to justice has resurfaced after Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin rejected the plea bargain. While some victim families believe that a capital punishment is appropriate for such horrific crimes, others are annoyed by the drawn-out judicial process and the uncertainty it causes. The pursuit of justice and resolution for the families of the victims is at the center of this crucial matter as the case progresses.
