Supreme Court Rejects 9/11 Defendants' Bid to Revive Plea Deals

Read Time:1 Minute, 3 Second

The Supreme Court on Monday turned away an appeal from Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the accused mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks, and two alleged accomplices, Mustafa al Hawsawi and Walid bin ‘Atash. The three were seeking to restore plea agreements that the government withdrew in 2024.

Discover Top American-Made Products!

Support local craftsmanship with these high-quality, American-made items—shop now on Amazon!

Shop Now

The court’s unsigned order leaves that withdrawal in place. Justice Brett Kavanaugh did not participate.

Under the deals, reached with military prosecutors and approved by the official who oversees the military court at Guantanamo Bay, the men would have pleaded guilty to all charges and served life sentences, avoiding the death penalty.

Then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin revoked the agreements shortly after they were announced.

A military judge and a military appeals court sided with the defendants, but the D.C. Circuit ruled last year that Austin “indisputably” had the authority to withdraw from the deals.

The order does not resolve the underlying case.

The men were captured in 2003 and charged in 2008 before a military commission with several crimes, five of which carry the death penalty.

The case has been slowed for years by disputes over whether evidence obtained during CIA interrogations, which CBS describes as torture, can be used in court.

Click here to read the full story on CBS News

About Post Author

Anthony Smith

Anthony Smith started writing about politics while in college, and that "interest" has turned into a career. He has now been covering politics for more than two decades, and has solidified his place as a fair-minded analyst of today's political world.