In a surprising turn of events, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin overturned a plea agreement for the accused mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, reinstating them as death penalty cases. This decision came just days after a plea deal was reached with Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two other defendants, promising life sentences.
The move sparked mixed reactions, with some families of the victims criticizing the deal for cutting off the possibility of full trials and potential death penalties. Republicans pointed fingers at the Biden administration, despite the White House claiming they were unaware of the agreement.
Austin, asserting his authority, nullified the agreements, halting the defendants from entering their pleas. The US military commission overseeing the cases has been mired in delays since 2008, partially due to the torture endured by the defendants while in CIA custody.
US announces plea deal with accused September 11 mastermind
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