The White House abruptly revoked plea deals with key individuals behind the 9/11 attacks on Friday, following significant bipartisan opposition.
The agreement, which proposed eliminating the death penalty as a potential sentence in the terrorists' cases, was rescinded by the Biden-Harris administration's defense secretary, Lloyd Austin, two days after the initial announcement, as Breitbart reports.
Initially, the administration had announced a plea deal to remove the death penalty for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two co-conspirators, Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarak Bin ‘Attash and Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawsawi. This deal faced intense backlash from both parties, resulting in a rapid about-face by the administration.
The news of the proposed plea deal quickly garnered strong reactions from political figures and the public. Many viewed the idea of such an agreement as a betrayal to the memory of the nearly 3,000 victims of the 9/11 attacks. The anger culminated in Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s decision to revoke the deal.
Austin took full responsibility for the decision. “I have determined that, in light of the significance of the decision to enter into pre-trial agreements with the accused in the above-referenced case, responsibility for such a decision should rest with me as the superior convening authority under the Military Commissions Act of 2009,” he stated.
Sen. J.D. Vance, one of the White House's most vocal critics, lambasted the Biden-Harris administration during a recent rally. "Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have weaponized the Department of Justice to go after their political opponents, but [their administration is] cutting a sweetheart deal with 9/11 terrorists,” he said vehemently.
Vance then emphasized the need for a more hardline approach against terrorists by stating, "We need a president who kills terrorists, not negotiates with them.” His comments echoed the sentiments of many Americans outraged by the prospect of leniency toward those who engineered the deadliest terror attack on U.S. soil.
The original plea deal required the accused terrorists to plead guilty to all charges, which included the murder of 2,976 individuals in the 9/11 attacks. However, the condition of the plea deal to eliminate the death penalty was met with widespread disapproval, leading to its revocation.
All three accused terrorists, Mohammed, Bin ‘Attash, and Hawsawi, have been detained at the U.S. military prison at Guantánamo Bay since 2003. The facility, known for holding terror suspects, has long been a subject of political contention regarding the treatment and legal process afforded to detainees.
The defendants had reportedly agreed to confess to all charges in exchange for the removal of capital punishment from their sentencing. The plea deal, initially aimed at concluding prolonged legal proceedings, was seen by many as undermining justice for the lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001.
The bipartisan backlash against the plea deal reflects the sensitive nature of the 9/11 attacks within American consciousness. Politicians from both sides of the aisle condemned the administration's initial decision and demanded that the death penalty remain on the table for the accused terrorists.
While some saw the potential plea agreement as a pragmatic approach to expedite justice, the overwhelming public and political sentiment leaned heavily towards upholding the possibility of the death penalty. This reaction played a crucial role in the administration’s decision to annul the plea agreement.
The swift revocation highlights the intense scrutiny and pressure faced by the Biden-Harris administration in handling highly sensitive matters, especially ones involving national security and historical trauma.
