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Guantanamo Plea Deals Reinstated
A military judge has reinstated plea deals for three Guantanamo Bay detainees accused in the 9/11 attacks, despite earlier revocation by the Secretary of Defense, causing controversy among victims' families and politicians.
French
France
JusticeUs PoliticsTerrorismControversyPlea BargainGuantanamo
CiaAcluPentagonUs Department Of Defense
Khalid Sheikh MohammedWalid Bin AttashMustafa Al-HawsawiSusan EscallierLloyd Austin
- Who are the three detainees involved and what are they accused of?
- The three detainees, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Walid bin Attash, and Mustafa al-Hawsawi, are accused of terrorism and the murder of nearly 3,000 people in the 9/11 attacks. They have been held at Guantanamo Bay for years, with the process mired in legal challenges.
- What are the terms of the plea deals and what controversies have they sparked?
- The plea deals would see Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two others plead guilty to conspiracy in exchange for life imprisonment, avoiding a trial complicated by the issue of CIA torture. The decision has sparked controversy, with victims' families and Republicans expressing strong opposition.
- What is the legal basis for the judge's decision upholding the plea agreements?
- The judge's decision states the plea agreements became binding upon signature by General Susan Escallier, who had the authority to sign them. It remains unclear if prosecutors will appeal the ruling.
- What are the varying perspectives on the plea deal, and who holds these opinions?
- The ACLU supports the plea deal, arguing it's the only viable option and that the Secretary of Defense overstepped his authority in revoking it. Meanwhile, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson called the agreement a slap in the face to victims' families.
- What was the military judge's ruling regarding the plea deals for the Guantanamo detainees?
- A military judge ruled that plea deals for three Guantanamo Bay detainees, including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, are admissible. The deals, which would avoid the death penalty, were initially revoked by the Secretary of Defense but reinstated by the judge.