Supreme Court rejects bid to revive 9/11 mastermind plea deal

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 19 Oct, 16:19 · Archive

The Supreme Court turned away an appeal by Khalid Sheikh Mohammed to revive a plea deal that was revoked by the Biden administration.

The Supreme Court on Monday rejected appeals from accused September 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and co-defendants Mustafa al Hawsawi and Walid bin 'Atash to revive plea agreements made with military prosecutors. The deals had been offered and accepted by the official overseeing the Pentagon's Guantanamo war court but were revoked two days later by then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. A lower court had upheld Austin's decision to void the agreements.

Mohammed, Hawsawi and bin 'Atash were captured in 2003 and charged with crimes related to their alleged roles in the 9/11 attacks, several of which carry the death penalty. The three men were held at secret CIA prisons where they were subjected to enhanced interrogation techniques before being moved to Guantanamo Bay in 2006. They were formally charged in 2008. The military prosecution has been beset by two decades of legal delays, particularly over whether evidence extracted during their interrogations could be used in court.

The Supreme Court's rejection of their appeal marks the latest development in a case that has faced extensive legal gridlock. A military judge set the trial date for June 2028, subject to parties meeting certain deadlines. Justice Brett Kavanaugh did not participate in the court's consideration of the appeal.

How it is being reported

• Supreme court rejects effort to revive plea deal for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in 9/11 attacksAgreement would have spared Mohammed risk of execution in exchange for guilty plea and life in prison The supreme court on Monday rejected an effort to revive a plea deal for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the accused mastermind of the attacks on 11 September 2001. The agreement would have spared Mohammed the risk of execution in exchange for his guilty plea and a sentence of life in prison without parole. Continue reading...Guardian World · 19 Oct, 16:50
• Supreme Court rejects bid to revive plea deal for accused 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh MohammedThe Supreme Court's action marks the latest milestone in a military prosecution of the detainees held in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, that has been beset by two decades of legal gridlockIndependent World · 19 Oct, 16:08
• Supreme Court turns away appeal from alleged 9/11 mastermindThe Supreme Court rebuffed an effort by alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed to revive a plea deal reached with military prosecutors and revoked by the Biden administration.CBS News · 19 Oct, 15:01

In this story: Khalid Sheikh Mohammed · Mustafa al Hawsawi · Walid bin 'Atash · Lloyd Austin · Supreme Court · Guantanamo Bay · Pentagon

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