A military judge ruled Wednesday that extended plea deals for three Sept. 11 terrorist defendants held at Guantanamo Bay are valid, renewing their chances of avoiding the death penalty. The New York Times reported.
In late July, the Pentagon (Department of Defense) announced that Susan Escalier, the convening authority for military commissions, had identified three defendants, including 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, and a terrorist suspect. announced that they have reached a pretrial deal that will allow them to avoid the death penalty. in exchange for pleading guilty to the charges against them. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin then intervened and annulled the agreement after protests from families of 9/11 victims, but a military judge, Col. Matthew N. McCall, ruled Wednesday that Austin had acted too late and that authorities The court ruled that the act exceeded the limit. According to To the New York Times. (Related article: 'A national disgrace': Lawmakers condemn Biden administration's plea deal for 9/11 masterminds)
9/11 widow slams Biden administration's 'outrageous' plea deal for Gitmo terroristshttps://t.co/B2RMi0HzrY
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According to the New York Times, McCall said he would move forward with having Mohammed, Walid bin Atash and Mustafa al-Hawsawi file separate petitions, but did not attach any timeline to the proceedings. Ta. The plea deal that Austin moved to withdraw is “an enforceable contract with the classic elements of offer, acceptance, and consideration,” McCall said, adding that Escalier said the plea agreement that Austin moved to withdraw was “an enforceable contract with the classic elements of offer, acceptance, and consideration.” “He had legal authority,” he added.
Austin could have supervised the case himself, but McCall claimed that he did not do so until Escalier approved a pretrial agreement, according to the New York Times. Austin, who was traveling abroad when he heard about the plea deal, said the agreement came as a surprise, while President Biden has sought to distance himself from the development.
“What the Secretary of Defense failed to do, however, was to delegate authority to Ms. Escalier, grant her independent discretion, and withdraw that discretion if she disagreed with how that discretion should be used. '' McCall told the NYT. It was not immediately clear whether the federal government intended to appeal McCall's decision.
The full agreement is sealed, but McCall said Mohamed and Hawsawi included language in the agreement that would allow the case to proceed without the death penalty if the government pulled out of the deal, according to the New York Times. It was pointed out that it was included.
The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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