Defense Department revokes 9/11 plea deals following backlash

The specifics of the plea deal were never released, but the New York Times previously reported that it removed the possibility of the death penalty. At least two Congressional inquiries into the plea deal have been launched.

https://justthenews.com/govern..._campaign=newsletter

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Friday withdrew from a pretrial agreement with three 9/11 plotters, after the department came under scrutiny for reaching a plea deal with terrorists, the New York Times has reported.

The specifics of the plea deal were never released, but the New York Times previously reported that it removed the possibility of the death penalty. At least two Congressional inquiries into the plea deal have been launched.

The Pentagon released a memorandum on Friday that withdrew the plea deal after releasing retired Brig. Gen. Susan K. Escallier, who oversaw the plea deal, of her oversight on the case.

“Effective immediately, in the exercise of my authority, I hereby withdraw from the three pretrial agreements that you signed on July 31, 2024," Austin wrote.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/ne...ED-DEAL-REVOKED.html

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has dramatically revoked a proposed plea deal for the alleged mastermind of the 9/11 attacks.

Austin said Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and two accomplices were no longer eligible for life sentences in prison without the prospect of the death penalty in return for a guilty plea.

They were offered the deal just two days ago, on Wednesday, triggering widespread outrage.

Austin also relieved the official responsible for the plea deal of her duties. Retired Brigadier General Susan K Escallier will no longer oversea the case, with Austin himself assuming responsibility for it.

The development was first reported by The New York Times Friday evening.

Friday's shock U-turn means Mohammed and his accomplices - Walid Bin Attash and Mustafa al-Hawasawi - could once again face the death penalty.

Wednesday's plea deal announcement was the culmination of two years of negotiations between prosecutors and defense attorneys.

The case has been bogged down in pre-trial hearings since 2012.

All three suspects have been held in Guantanamo Bay since the early 2000s.

more at link

Well that didn’t take long

While I understand the outrage, the truth is that it’s not likely they will ever receive the death penalty.
The incompetent way this was handled needs to be looked into but is also unlikely to happen with the current administration.
Dropping him out of a helicopter into shark infested water would be the only satisfactory resolution.

quote:

The case has been bogged down in pre-trial hearings since 2012.

So much for a speedy trial.

Nice to hear, but as others have noted, a trial ending in the death penalty is extremely unlikely due to the nature of the defendants' capture, interrogation and incarceration. Too many national security and civil rights issues. If I had to guess, as a person generally skeptical of anything the Democrats do, this move was made to take heat off of Kamala. Now she doesn't have to spend the next three months defending the plea agreement.

Disgusting! This administration is incompetent to the level of criminality!
Truly, F**k joe biden!

quote:

Originally posted by ChicagoSigMan:
... If I had to guess, as a person generally skeptical of anything the Democrats do, this move was made to take heat off of Kamala. Now she doesn't have to spend the next three months defending the plea agreement.

My first thought exactly... Everything these bozo's do is driven by the election.

quote:

Originally posted by wcb6092:
The case has been bogged down in pre-trial hearings since 2012.

All three suspects have been held in Guantanamo Bay since the early 2000s.

The evil part of me thinks, "gee, these guys could have died "of old age," (wink, wink, nudge, nudge) by now."

- - - -

Yes, I know that's neither moral nor practical, in the bigger picture.

quote:

Originally posted by vthoky:

quote:

Originally posted by wcb6092:
The case has been bogged down in pre-trial hearings since 2012.

All three suspects have been held in Guantanamo Bay since the early 2000s.

The evil part of me thinks, "gee, these guys could have died "of old age," (wink, wink, nudge, nudge) by now."

It'd be a shame if some Private "accidentally" left the cell door open and they tried to escape.

quote:

Originally posted by JohnO:

quote:

Originally posted by ChicagoSigMan:
... If I had to guess, as a person generally skeptical of anything the Democrats do, this move was made to take heat off of Kamala. Now she doesn't have to spend the next three months defending the plea agreement.

My first thought exactly... Everything these bozo's do is driven by the election.

Exactly. They didn't expect the reaction it got.

Zero is a muslim sympathizer and Israel hater so it's no surprise his puppets would make the original deal. But the idea that those responsible for the death of over 3000 Americans could ever be relieved of the death penalty no matter how complicated it would be to convict them is a slap in the face to the families of the dead.

Once this leaked out the democrats are in damage control because of how bad it makes them look.

And that is the irony of this election. The democrats have to deny every policy from the last 3.5 years and do everything the opposite of what they have been doing to actually win. Sort of like "Opposite George" on Seinfeld. That is how unpopular their actual policies are with the majority of Americans.

I'll say it again, like in KSM thread:

Beach+backhoe+low tide=natural causes.

More than one? Dig a trench rather than a hole.

Are there alligators in Cuba? Gotta be a few around somewhere.
Alternative: free midnight helicopter ride to a nearby worker's paradise, disembark at 1,368' over swamp.

Why aren’t they dead already?

quote:

Originally posted by architect:
I'll say it again, like in KSM thread:

Beach+backhoe+low tide=natural causes.

More than one? Dig a trench rather than a hole.

Are there alligators in Cuba? Gotta be a few around somewhere.
Alternative: free midnight helicopter ride to a nearby worker's paradise, disembark at 1,368' over swamp.

No alligators, but there are crocodiles around GTMO.

quote:

Originally posted by ruger357:
Why aren’t they dead already?

Once they broke KSM he was actually very useful in helping the U.S. dismantle Al Queda. In some ways he is one of the greatest intelligence assets in history. That has some value, and he can probably provide insight on current happenings with Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran.

If he’s useful, use him! Kill him later.

quote:

Originally posted by Lefty Sig:
Once they broke KSM he was actually very useful in helping the U.S. dismantle Al Queda.

Basically the only use for a live terrorist, IMO. Use their info to kill other terrorists.

"...And kill them when they've exhausted their usefulness..." is the controversial part that doesn't seem to to get any traction, but I'm all for that, too.

Chipper/shredder.

quote:

Originally posted by Snapping Twig:
Chipper/shredder.

Feet first