Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has dramatically revoked a proposed plea deal for the alleged mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks that sparked outrage.
Austin said Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and two accomplices were no longer eligible to be sentenced to life in prison without the prospect of the death penalty in exchange for a guilty plea.
He also relieved the official responsible for the plea agreement of her duties. Retired Brigadier General Susan K Escallier will no longer oversee the case, just two days after announcing the plea deal. The development was first reported by The New York Times Friday afternoon.
Friday’s shock about-face means Mohammed and his accomplices, Walid Bin Attash and Mustafa al-Hawasawi, could once again face the death penalty.
This Saturday, March 1, 2003, Khalid Shaikh Mohammad, the alleged mastermind of 9/11, is shown shortly after his capture during a raid in Pakistan.
All three have been detained at Guantanamo Bay since the early 2000s.
News of Wednesday’s plea deal left families of many of the 3,000 people killed in the September 2001 terrorist attacks “deeply concerned.”
Many said they feared the deal would mean they would never find out who was really behind the attacks on New York, Washington DC and Pennsylvania, amid suspicions Saudi Arabia was deeply involved in the spectacular terror attack.
9/11 Justice President Brett Eagleson said: “We are deeply concerned by these plea agreements. While we acknowledge the decision to avoid the death penalty, our primary concern remains access to these individuals for information.
Walid Bin Attash (left) and Mustafa al Hawasi (right) now face new trials after the plea deal collapsed. They have been detained at Guantanamo Bay since the early 2000s.
Hijacked United Airlines Flight 175 from Boston crashes into the South Tower of the World Trade Center and explodes at 9:03 a.m. on September 11. Nearly 3,000 people were killed during the attacks on New York City, Washington DC, and the downing of a United Airlines jet in a field in Pennsylvania.
‘These plea deals must not perpetuate a system of closed-door plea bargains, where crucial information is withheld without giving victims’ families the opportunity to know the full truth.
We need to know the extent of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s involvement in the 9/11 attacks.
‘This isn’t just about punishment, it’s about uncovering the truth and ensuring justice for the nearly 3,000 Americans who lost their lives on that tragic day.
‘Our position is clear: if a settlement is to be reached, we must ensure that we obtain the vital evidence that these individuals possess.’
The agreements were approved by the Pentagon, the same organization whose head has now rescinded them.
Developing story, check back for updates…
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