US Defense Secretary Withdraws Plea Deal with 9/11 Suspects
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has withdrawn a plea deal with three 9/11 suspects, including the alleged mastermind behind the attack, according to the Pentagon. The deal, which involved Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarak Bin Attash, and Mustafa Ahmed Adam al-Hawsawi pleading guilty to avoid the death penalty, was cancelled by Austin.
Austin’s decision comes after retired Brigadier General Susan K. Escallier negotiated the deal on Wednesday, only to be removed from the case by Austin. The defense secretary now reserves the exclusive right to enter into pre-trial agreements with the suspects himself.
The suspects were captured in 2003 and are currently held at Guantanamo Bay. The plea deals, which would have resulted in life sentences for the suspects, were criticized by groups representing 9/11 victims’ families. They argued that the agreements should not prevent obtaining information regarding Saudi Arabia’s role in the attacks, as many of the suspects have Saudi connections.
This development highlights the complex legal and political issues surrounding the 9/11 case and the continued search for accountability in one of the most significant events in modern history.