Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Friday announced the dismissal of charges against Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two of his co-conspirators, Walid Mohammed Saleh, the alleged mastermind behind the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Plea agreement between Mubarak bin Attash and Mustafa Ahmed.
The decision effectively revives the possibility of the death penalty for the three men.
“Gateway Pundit” previously reported that the military commission convened the body and the defendants Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Walid Mohammed Saleh Mubarak bin Atash and Mustafa Aha A plea agreement was reached between Madad Adam Housawi and signed by retired Brig.-Gen. Gen. Susan Escalier’s goal was to lessen the legal impact on the defendants while allowing them to avoid the death penalty.
Details about the terms of the agreement have not been disclosed.
Secretary Austin’s announcement comes amid growing pressure from across the political spectrum and advocacy groups who argue that any clemency for those involved in the 9/11 attacks would undermine justice for the nearly 3,000 victims and their families .
“I have determined that, given the significance of the decision to enter into a pretrial agreement with the defendant in the case described above, responsibility for this decision rests with me as the superior convening authority under the Military Commissions Act of 2009,” Austin wrote.
“I hereby revoke your authority to enter into a pre-trial agreement in the above case and reserve that authority to myself, effective immediately. Effective immediately, I exercise my authority to hereby revoke your authority to enter into the pre-trial agreement in the above case on July 31, 2024. three pre-trial agreements with the Department.
The New York Times reports:
Mr. Austin was traveling abroad and returned to the United States later that day.
At the time, prosecutors in the case notified the families of those killed in the attack of the decision, some of whom expressed disappointment and anger that the death penalty was no longer possible. So do Republican leaders.
A senior Pentagon official said the decision was made solely by the secretary of state and had no involvement from the White House. The official said Austin never supported the plea deal and wanted the military commission trial to proceed.
Lawyers at Guantanamo Bay, who have expressed doubts about Austin’s conduct, are preparing for a hearing, which could take place as soon as Wednesday, in which the judge in the case, Col. Matthew N. McCall, will ask Mr. Muhammad whether he understood and understood what he meant. Agree to the request voluntarily.
“If the Secretary of Defense issues such an order, I have deep respect and deep disappointment that after all these years, the government still has not learned the lessons of this case and the consequences of disregarding due process and fair play,” he said. Gary D. Sowards, Mr. Muhammad’s lead defense attorney.
