Additional Coverage:
- Federal court stays Khalid Sheikh Mohammed’s guilty plea hearing (newsbreak.com)
Biden Administration Blocks Plea Deal for Alleged 9/11 Mastermind
The Biden administration has successfully blocked a plea deal for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of the 9/11 attacks. A federal court has issued a stay, preventing a hearing scheduled for Friday where Mohammed was expected to plead guilty.
Legal Battle Continues
The plea deal, which would have removed the death penalty as an option, was opposed by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. The Biden administration petitioned the court to stay the hearing, arguing that Austin had the authority to withdraw the agreement.
Court Rulings
Military courts have ruled that Austin did not have the right to withdraw the plea deal, as Mohammed and other alleged plotters had already begun to fulfill its terms. However, the Biden administration argues that this is a misinterpretation.
Administration’s Position
The administration believes that proceeding with the plea hearings would deny the government and the public a full trial and the possibility of capital punishment for the “most egregious criminal act on American soil in modern history.”
Appeal to Civilian Court
The Biden administration is asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit for extraordinary relief, seeking a directive to the military commission to recognize Austin’s withdrawal of the plea deal. The case is expected to continue into the Trump administration.
Read More About This Story:
- Federal court stays Khalid Sheikh Mohammed’s guilty plea hearing (newsbreak.com)