Three men accused of orchestrating the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States have agreed to a plea deal, as announced by the Department of Defense. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarak Bin Attash, and Mustafa Ahmed Adam al-Hawsawi, who have been detained at Guantanamo Bay for years without trial, will plead guilty in exchange for the prosecution not seeking the death penalty. The specifics of the agreement remain undisclosed, but the deal was communicated to the families of 9/11 victims via a letter from prosecutors.
The 9/11 attacks, the deadliest on US soil since Pearl Harbor, resulted in nearly 3,000 deaths and led to the “War on Terror” and the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, considered the mastermind behind the attacks, was captured in Pakistan in 2003 along with Hawsawi. Mohammed, a US-educated engineer, allegedly proposed the plan to al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden and assisted in recruiting and training the hijackers. He was subjected to “enhanced interrogation techniques,” including waterboarding, which has been a contentious issue due to its classification as torture by critics.
The plea deal represents a significant development after years of legal delays, partly caused by concerns that the use of torture on the detainees could undermine the evidence against them. In September, the Biden administration reportedly rejected a previous plea deal that included guarantees against solitary confinement and access to trauma treatment for the detainees.
The White House National Security Council confirmed that the president’s office was informed of the new deal on Wednesday but did not participate in the negotiations. The agreement has sparked varied reactions. Jim Smith, whose wife died in the attacks, expressed disappointment, feeling that the families were denied their day in court and advocating for the highest penalty for the accused. Republican leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, criticized the Biden administration for negotiating with the detainees, labeling it a failure in the government’s duty to provide justice and defend America.
The plea before a military court could occur as soon as next week, according to The New York Times. The accused men face numerous charges, including attacking civilians, murder in violation of the laws of war, hijacking, and terrorism.
