Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Friday overturned a plea agreement reached earlier this week for the accused mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and two other defendants, reinstating the death penalty as a possible outcome.
The decision comes just two days after the military commission at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, announced it had reached plea deals with Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two alleged accomplices in the attacks.
Letters sent to families of the nearly 3,000 people killed in the al-Qaida attacks stated that the plea agreement stipulated the three would serve life sentences, according to the AP.
Read: Florida Gov. DeSantis Signs Death Warrant For Inmate Convicted In 1994 Murder Of FSU Student
Some families of the attack’s victims condemned the deal for cutting off the possibility of full trials and potential death penalties, the AP reported.
Republicans quickly criticized the Biden administration for the deal, although the White House said it had no prior knowledge of it. In an order released Friday night, Austin wrote that “in light of the significance of the decision,” he had decided the authority to make a decision on accepting the plea agreements was his. He nullified the agreements.
Mohammed and the other defendants had been expected to formally enter their pleas under the deal as soon as next week.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Android Users: Download our free app to stay up-to-date on the latest news.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.