US Air Force Col. Matthew McCallA military judge ruled on Wednesday that the plea deal was made by agreement Khalid Sheikh MohammedThe alleged mastermind of the September 11 attacks and two co-defendants, Walid bin Atash and Mustafa al-Hawasawi, are legal. The deals were negotiated to allow the defendants to plead guilty in exchange for negligence. death sentenceDefense Secretary Lloyd Austin reversed earlier this year.
Marking a significant step toward concluding the long-running prosecution of the 9/11 attacks, the decision paves the way for the three men to enter guilty pleas soon.
The Plea AgreementInitially approved by government prosecutors and military commission officials, faced a backlash when made public, leading Austin to cancel them. He argued that such plea bargains, especially in death penalty cases, fell under his jurisdiction. However, the judge disagreed, saying Austin lacked the legal authority to overturn the contracts.
McCall also criticized Austin’s timing, saying the plea deals had already been approved by relevant officials at Guantanamo. The judge argued that following Austin’s order would give defense secretaries “absolute veto power” over any decision, undermining the independence of the military judge overseeing the trial.
The Pentagon is reviewing the judge’s decision and has not yet released further comments.