The 9/11 plea deals should go forward - The Washington Post
Washington PostAug 12, 2024
Military Court Upholds Alleged 9/11 Plotters' Plea Deals
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Above: US Secretary of Defense Lloyd James Austin III at the Army-Navy football game Dec. 14, 2024. Image copyright: Roger Wimmer/Contributor/ISI Photos/Getty Images
The Facts
A military appeals court on Monday ruled against US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's attempt to nullify plea agreements for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two other defendants in the 9/11 attacks, maintaining their opportunity to avoid death sentences.
The three-judge panel determined that Austin lacked authority to revoke the pretrial agreements after they were already in motion, upholding an earlier decision by military judge Air Force Col. Matthew McCall.
The plea deals, negotiated over two years and approved by Pentagon official Susan Escallier, would allow the defendants to plead guilty to war crimes in exchange for life sentences rather than face death penalty trials.
The Spin
Right narrative
It's deeply troubling how Austin and the Defense Department have bungled this case. The sheer gravity of the 9/11 attacks demands full trials and the possibility of death sentences for the perpetrators. Making plea deals to spare their lives is inappropriate given the magnitude of their crimes against the American people.
Left narrative
Despite concerns from victims' families and some legislators about these plea deals, they truly represent a practical solution to resolve a legally troubled case — marking a crucial step toward justice after decades of legal stalemate. Additionally, complications arising from interrogation methods could lead to a court ordering these defendants to be released rather than imprisoned for life.
