Relatives of 9/11 victims and members of Congress praised Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin for “doing the right thing” Friday by revoking plea deals that would have spared the death penalty for the three masterminds of the terror attacks.
They now hope that justice will be served and a trial date will be set “immediately.”
“Thank God!” Cathy Villano, widow of New York Police Detective Joseph Villano, one of the nearly 3,000 people killed on Sept. 11, 2001, told The Washington Post upon learning that plea deals had been scrapped for accused mastermind of the al-Qaida attacks, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, and his two alleged assistants, Walid Mohammed Saleh Mubarak bin Attash and Mustafa Ahmed Adam al-Hawsawi.
Joseph Vigiano’s brother, New York City Fire Department firefighter John Vigiano, was also killed responding to the attack on the World Trade Center.
Former officer Cathy Villano said the family is “pleased that Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has rescinded the improper plea deal” and “hopes long-delayed justice will be achieved for our family and others who were harmed.”
Patty Coughlin, widow of NYPD Sergeant John Coughlin of the city’s Emergency Services Division, said the three men, who have been held at Cuba’s Guantanamo Bay detention center since 2003, “deserve the severest punishment.”
“They have been abusing and exploiting our system for over 20 years,” Coughlin told The Post. “It’s time to bring them to justice.”
“Justice must be achieved.”
Sally Regenhardt told The Washington Post that Austin’s shocking overturning of his conviction “will help restore faith in this country’s justice system.”
Her son, Christian Regenhardt, was one of 343 firefighters killed on 9/11.
“My colleagues, including myself and members of the FDNY, want to thank Mr. Austin and the Biden administration for this fair and honorable decision,” Regenhard said, adding that he was “devastated and angered” by the Biden administration’s initial decision to offer plea deals to the terrorism suspects.
Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.) similarly praised Austin, but echoed the arguments of 9/11 victims’ families that justice is long overdue.
“While I am pleased to hear Attorney General Austin has withdrawn this unacceptable plea deal, the fact remains that 23 years after the worst terrorist attack on American soil, the families of the 9/11 victims, the first responders who continue to suffer and die, and all Americans deserve justice,” Malliotakis told The Post.
“That starts with seeking the death penalty, setting trial dates immediately, and holding these terrorist monsters accountable for their crimes against humanity,” she added.
The congressman also hinted that he plans to “stand with the families of 9/11 victims, first responders and police unions on Monday to demand that the Biden-Harris Administration take action so that justice is finally achieved.”
Another lawmaker from the Empire State House said the suspected terrorists “should not expect mercy.”
“I appreciate that Austin made the right decision in response to my urging and that of my colleagues,” Rep. Brandon Williams (R-N.Y.) wrote to X. “Failing to hold terrorists accountable for the atrocities they committed would be an insult to the families of the victims and send the wrong message to our enemies.”
“We do not negotiate with terrorists. You attack America and harm our people. You do not expect mercy,” he added.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Governor Austin’s decision to assume control of the military commissions convening body and revoke the pretrial agreement was “the right thing to do.”
“I believe that Attorney General Austin made the right call and made good command decisions by rescinding the plea deals for the 9/11 masterminds and their accomplices,” the South Carolina Republican wrote to X. “The previous plea deals would have sent an entirely wrong message to terrorists around the world.”
“I know the families of the victims of the 9/11 attacks will appreciate this, as will I,” he added.
