The remarkable decision on Friday to overturn a plea agreement for the key perpetrators of the September 11 terrorist attacks, along with their accomplices, was met with acclaim and calls for justice from victims’ advocates and Republican officials.
“The Biden-Harris Administration was right to change direction after receiving communications from @GOPoversight and @HASCRepublicans prompting investigations into this unacceptable plea deal,” House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., wrote on X after it was announced that Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III had annulled the agreement.
“Now it’s time to deliver the long-awaited justice for the families affected by 9/11,” he stated.
Pentagon prosecutors ignited national outrage on Thursday by revealing a plea agreement with Khalid Shaikh Mohammad, Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarak Bin ‘Attash, and Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawsawi, who are currently awaiting trial at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. While the specifics of the deal were not made public, it was communicated to three relatives of 9/11 victims by the Office of Military Commissions (OMC) that the death penalty would no longer be an option, as reported by the New York Post.
BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION REVERSES PLEA DEAL FOR 9/11 TERRORISTS
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin annulled a plea deal provided to the masterminds behind the 9/11 terror attacks. (Ian Waldie/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The attacks on the World Trade Center resulted in the deaths of nearly 3,000 individuals in the deadliest terrorist attack on U.S. soil in history. Families of the victims, their representative organizations, and lawmakers expressed confusion and anger that those responsible for the attack might escape prosecution to the fullest extent of the law. Both the House Oversight and Armed Services Committees announced they would investigate the plea deals, which Armed Services Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Ala., termed “unconscionable.”
Nonetheless, the agreement was rescinded after Austin discharged the official responsible for the military commission who had agreed to the deal and took control of the matter himself.
“Effective immediately, in the exercise of my authority, I withdraw the three pretrial agreements that you signed on July 31, 2024,” the secretary stated in a brief memo on Friday.
The Defense Secretary did not clarify why he had not taken action prior to the signing and public announcement of the plea agreements.
9/11 MASTERMIND, 2 OTHERS STRIKE PLEA DEALS WHILE AWAITING TRIAL; FAMILIES OF VICTIMS ‘VERY DISAPPOINTED’
Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, alleged mastermind of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. (AP)
His quick action to reverse the plea deal was praised by 9/11 Families United, an organization that advocates for the victims’ families and survivors of the September 11 attacks.
“Defense Secretary Austin is demonstrating America’s determination with this choice, showcasing that the nation does not engage in negotiations with terrorists,” said Terry Strada, national chair of 9/11 Families United. “The media amplified our appeals for justice, and we will offer the same mercy to the three detainees at Guantánamo Bay who murdered my husband: none.”
She urged Congress to enact the Ensuring Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act, which would enable the families of terrorism victims to seek financial restitution from foreign sponsors of terrorism.
“We must deliver the same strong message to those who sponsor terrorism: if you harm Americans on American soil, we will hold you accountable in a U.S. court, and justice will prevail,” Strada stated.
LOVED ONES OF 9/11 VICTIMS REACT TO TERROR DEFENDANT PLEA DEAL: ‘LIFETIME OF PAIN AND SUFFERING’
The Brooklyn Bridge 9/11 Tribute in Light in New York City. (Fox News Photo/Joshua Comins)
Numerous Republican lawmakers from New York welcomed the Defense Secretary’s decision while insisting that Khalid Shaikh Mohammad and the other September 11 terrorists should face trial for their offenses and endure the maximum possible punishment.
“I’m thankful to see that @SecDef Austin made the correct choice, responding to the demands of my colleagues and myself. Allowing these terrorists to evade accountability for their heinous acts would be an affront to the families of the victims and send the wrong message to our adversaries,” Representative Brandon Williams, R-N.Y., remarked.
Representative Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., urged Pentagon prosecutors to swiftly move towards trial.
“It’s a positive development,” she posted on X. “Anything short of seeking the death penalty is intolerable. Thank you to everyone who raised their voices to advocate for real justice instead of a favorable deal for terrorists. Now, let’s set a date for the trial.”
9/11 FAMILIES OUTRAGED AFTER ALLEGED MASTERMIND, 2 OTHERS RECEIVE PLEA DEALS: ‘WE NEED A DAY IN COURT’
Thick smoke billows into the sky from the area behind the Statue of Liberty, lower left, where the World Trade Center once stood, on Tuesday, September 11, 2001. (AP Photo/Daniel Hulshizer)
Representative Anthony D’Esposito reiterated that demand: “Now, it’s time for Secretary Austin and President Biden to bring an end to this 23-year-long nightmare by expediting the execution of these terrorists and delivering justice for the families affected by 9/11.”
Leading Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., have yet to comment on the plea deal or on Austin’s decision to overturn it. The White House directed Fox News Digital to the Defense Department for a statement.
Other victims’ organizations quickly reacted to both the plea deal and the Biden-Harris administration’s reversal.
Patrick Hendry, president of the Police Benevolent Association of the City of New York, expressed to Fox News that this was a significant relief for the families of the September 11 terror attack victims.
LAWMAKERS, FAMILIES OF 9/11 VICTIMS REACT TO PLEA DEAL WITH TERRORISTS: ‘SLAP IN THE FACE’
Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, a suspected al Qaeda terrorist, is depicted in this photograph released by the FBI on October 10, 2001, in Washington, D.C. Mohammed was apprehended at a residence in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. (Getty Images)
“The families of our 9/11 heroes transformed their grief and anger into a compelling message. It’s their bravery that has led to the reversal of these disgraceful plea agreements,” Hendry remarked.
“We are relieved and thankful, but our mission is not complete. As we have maintained from the beginning, these terrorists who took so many innocent lives must face the ultimate punishment. The security of our nation hinges on it, and the long-suffering families of the fallen merit nothing less.”
9/11 Justice President Brett Eagleson expressed his group’s astonishment and deep frustration regarding the lack of notification or consultation of victims’ families over both the plea agreement and its subsequent retraction.
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“These monsters need to be compelled to divulge all information they possess regarding the attacks and be held fully responsible for the murder of our loved ones. It’s not simply about punishment; it’s about discovering the complete truth,” Eagleson stated.
“Our pursuit of truth and justice is unwavering. We call upon the administration to guarantee these individuals provide crucial information concerning the 9/11 attacks, including the depth of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s involvement. The American populace and the families of the nearly 3,000 victims deserve to uncover every detail. This decision should not impede our attempts to hold all responsible parties, including the Saudi government, accountable for their roles in this horrific tragedy.”
Eagleson advocated for the annulment of these plea deals to promote “greater transparency and accountability.”
The Defense Department did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
Fox News Digital’s Stepheny Price and Fox News’ Bill Mears contributed to this report.
