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Judge Upholds 9/11 Plea Deals
A military judge upheld plea agreements for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and co-defendants in the 9/11 case, overruling the defense secretary.
English
United States
PoliticsJusticeHuman Rights ViolationsUs PoliticsMiddle EastMilitaryTerrorismLaw
PentagonGuantanamo Military CommissionAl-QaidaCia
Khalid Sheikh MohammedLloyd AustinMatthew MccallPat Ryder
- What is the significance of the plea agreements made by the defendants?
- The plea agreements would prevent the death penalty for Mohammed and his co-defendants in exchange for guilty pleas in the 9/11 case. These deals were negotiated by government prosecutors and approved by the top official at Guantanamo Bay.
- What is the current status of the ruling and what steps are being taken?
- The Pentagon is reviewing the judge's decision, while the ruling itself has yet to be officially posted on the Guantanamo military commission's website. The 29-page ruling is said to fully detail the judge's reasoning.
- What was the basis of the judge's decision to uphold the plea agreements?
- The judge, Air Force Col. Matthew McCall, ruled that Secretary Austin lacked the authority to overturn the plea agreements, citing the timing of his intervention as "fatal."
- What was the initial reaction to the plea agreements, and how did it affect the situation?
- Republican lawmakers and others immediately criticized the plea agreements upon their announcement in late July, leading to Secretary Austin's attempt to nullify them.
- What was the main ruling in the case involving Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his co-defendants?
- A military judge has ruled that the plea agreements reached by Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two co-defendants are valid, overruling Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's attempt to void them.