World

US Defence Secretary Blocks Plea Deal For 9/11 Attackers; Reinstates Death Penalty Cases

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin has annulled a recently reached plea agreement involving Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two alleged accomplices of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

This decision reinstates the death penalty as a potential outcome for the defendants, according to media reports.

Earlier this week, the military commission at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, announced the plea deals.

The agreement had granted the accused life sentences without parole, but officials have now revoked it.

Austin’s order, released late Friday, asserts that the gravity of the case necessitates his direct oversight.

In a memorandum addressed to Susan Escallier, who managed the case, Austin emphasized that the authority to approve such significant pre-trial agreements lies with me.

The memorandum formally invalidates the agreements signed on 31 July 2024.

Some victims’ families criticized the plea deal, arguing it prevented a full trial and the imposition of the death penalty.

Republicans Criticize Biden Administration Over Plea Deal, White House Claims Ignorance

The decision also drew sharp criticism from Republicans, who blamed the Biden administration for the agreement, though the White House claimed ignorance of the deal prior to its announcement.

Mohammed and his co-defendants were likely to formally plead under the deal next week.

The case, which has been mired in pre-trial proceedings since 2008, has been significantly delayed due to the defendants’ torture while in CIA custody.

This has complicated the admissibility of evidence and left the future of the trials uncertain.

Austin’s decision moves the case back into a contentious legal and political arena, with significant implications for justice in this high-profile US legal case.

Also Read: Hezbollah Chief Hassan Nasrallah To Address Public Over Military Chief’s Death

Mankrit Kaur

Recent Posts

Gautam Adani Hails Puri Lifeguards As Unsung Heroes During Rath Yatra Visit

Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani Group, visited Puri in Odisha during the annual Rath…

5 hours ago

Acharya Pramod Krishnam Slams Congress Over ‘Internal Emergency’ Allegation

Acharya Pramod Krishnam, stirred political debate by claiming an 'internal emergency' still exists within the…

6 hours ago

MRM Meeting: Pledge for Global Peace, Green India, De-addiction & Democratic Integrity

Taking a crucial step toward positive transformation, social reform, and global peace, the Muslim Rashtriya…

6 hours ago

India To Host 2029 World Police & Fire Games; Amit Shah Hails Global Recognition

India has been chosen to host the prestigious 2029 World Police and Fire Games in…

6 hours ago

Seeing The Lord Among Devotees Is The Pinnacle Of Humility: Gautam Adani At Rath Yatra

Gautam Adani, along with his wife and Karan, participated in the Rath Yatra in Puri,…

8 hours ago

PM Modi Interacts With Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla Aboard The ISS

PM Narendra Modi interacted with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian to reach the…

10 hours ago