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Judge Blocks Voiding of 9/11 Plea Deals
A military judge blocked Defense Secretary Austin's order to void plea deals for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and other 9/11 suspects, upholding the agreements.
English
United States
PoliticsJusticeHuman Rights ViolationsUs PoliticsMiddle EastMilitaryTerrorismLaw
PentagonGuantanamo Military CommissionCia
Khalid Sheikh MohammedLloyd AustinMatthew MccallPat Ryder
- What were the main arguments in Judge McCall's ruling?
- Judge McCall's ruling, as reported by Lawdragon, contends that Secretary Austin lacked the authority to nullify the plea agreements. The judge also cited the timing of Austin's order as a significant factor in his decision.
- What did the plea agreements entail for the defendants?
- The plea agreements would prevent Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and the other defendants from facing the death penalty in exchange for guilty pleas. The deals were negotiated by government prosecutors with defense attorneys and approved by the top military official at Guantanamo Bay.
- What was the immediate political reaction to the plea deals?
- The plea deals sparked immediate backlash from Republican lawmakers and others, generating significant political controversy. The agreements, and Secretary Austin's attempt to overturn them, represent a critical point in the prolonged 9/11 case.
- What is the current status of the Pentagon's response to the judge's ruling?
- The Pentagon is reviewing the judge's decision and hasn't yet issued a further statement. The judge's full 29-page ruling has not been officially released to the public by the Guantanamo military commission.
- What was the main ruling in the case concerning the plea deals for the 9/11 suspects?
- Air Force Col. Matthew McCall, a military judge, ruled that the plea agreements reached between the alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two co-defendants are valid. This decision overturned an order from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to void the deals.