The Court of Military Appeals ruled Tuesday that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin cannot revoke plea deals for Guantanamo Bay detainees, including suspected 9/11 architect Khalid Sheikh Mohammad. Fox News reported that.
Although the court's opinion has not yet been formally released, the plea agreement between military prosecutors and defense attorneys is valid and enforceable, and Austin later exceeded his authority when he tried to invalidate the plea agreement. said that he had done so.
The Pentagon has the option of going to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit for an emergency review, but the court docket showed no filings as of Tuesday afternoon.
A hearing is scheduled for next week at Guantanamo Bay, and Mr. Muhammad and the other two defendants could plead guilty in separate hearings, with the death penalty potentially removed.
This is developing news. Please check back for the latest information.
