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The US government has reached plea agreements with one of the main masterminds behind the 9/11 attacks and two of his co-defendants.
What’s the deal: According to the New York Times, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his two co-conspirators (Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarak Bin ‘Attash and Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawsawi) reached a plea deal with the US government that would spare them the death penalty. If finalized, they would likely receive life sentences, though it remains unclear if these would come with or without the possibility of parole.
What they’re accused of: Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his co-conspirators are accused of orchestrating and facilitating the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people. Mohammed is alleged to have been the principal architect, presenting the idea to Osama bin Laden and overseeing the logistics and training of the 19 hijackers. The other two defendants are accused of providing support to the hijackers, including financial assistance, travel arrangements, and operational coordination, which contributed to the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the crash of Flight 93 in Pennsylvania.
Why are they being offered a plea deal?: The plea deal negotiations for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his co-conspirators arise from the prolonged legal challenges related to their treatment by the CIA. The defendants were subjected to torture, including waterboarding, complicating the prosecution’s case. These legal and ethical issues have delayed the trial for years, prompting prosecutors to consider plea deals to resolve the case.
Reaction from 9/11 Families: Discussion of a potential plea deal has sparked anger among many 9/11 victims’ families. Terry Strada, in a statement, expressed her frustration: “I wanted a trial, I wanted him to be found guilty, and I wanted him to be punished accordingly.” She criticized the terms of the deal, saying, “We’ll take off the death penalty, you say you’re guilty, and you get to live in Git Mo country club until you die. I’ve been there. It’s a lot cushier than it would be in a max prison.”
Reaction from the Senate: In a brief statement, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnel said, “The Biden-Harris Administration’s weakness in the face of sworn enemies of the American people apparently knows no bounds. The plea deal with terrorists – including Khalid Sheik Mohammed, the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks that killed thousands of Americans – is a revolting abdication of the government’s responsibility to defend America and provide justice. The only thing worse than negotiating with terrorists is negotiating with them after they are in custody. The families of their victims and the American people deserve real justice. In the same week that Israel eliminated some of Iran’s most trusted terrorist proxies, the Administration’s decision to spare these mass-murderers from the death penalty is an especially bitter pill. Meanwhile, the Biden-Harris Administration still seeks to release other Guantanamo terrorists back into the world. The Administration’s cowardice in the face of terror is a national disgrace.”
