Three of the accused architects of the September 11th attacks have struck plea deals that will spare them the death penalty, eliciting anger and frustration from victims' families.
The Department of Defense (DOD) announced on Wednesday that prosecutors have reached plea agreements with three of the alleged masterminds behind the September 11th terror attacks. Khalid Shaikh Mohammad, Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarak Bin 'Attash, and Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawsawi were awaiting trial at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.
The terms and conditions of the plea deals remain undisclosed, but a source close to the case revealed to the New York Post that the terror suspects will be spared the death penalty. This news has sent shockwaves through the families of 9/11 victims, who have been eagerly anticipating the trial to hold the perpetrators accountable.
Plea Deals for 9/11 Masterminds Sparking Outrage and Disappointment
Jim Smith, a retired police officer and husband of Moira Smith, the only female NYPD officer who died on 9/11, expressed his outrage at the plea deals. "I feel like I was kicked," he stated. "They took that opportunity away from us," he added, referring to the prosecution's decision to spare the suspects the death penalty.
Daniel D'Allara, whose twin brother, John, was an NYPD cop killed in the attacks, shared similar sentiments. "I am very disappointed. We waited patiently for a long time. I wanted the death penalty — the government has failed us," he told The Post.
Plea Deals for 9/11 Masterminds Sparking Outrage and Disappointment
The plea deals are the result of years of legal maneuvering and negotiations between the prosecution and the defense. In September 2022, President Biden rejected a plea deal that would have excused the 9/11 architects and co-conspirators from potentially facing the death penalty. At the time, the prisoners demanded guarantees they wouldn't serve their sentences in solitary confinement and the establishment of a civilian-run program to treat alleged injuries sustained during CIA interrogations.
The three men, along with Ali Abdul Aziz Ali and Ramzi Bin al Shibh, were initially charged jointly and arraigned on June 5, 2008. They were charged a second time on May 5, 2012, in connection with their alleged roles in the attacks. The defendants are accused of providing training, financial support, and other assistance to the 19 terrorists who hijacked passenger jets and crashed them into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, on September 11, 2001. The attacks killed nearly 3,000 people, marking the deadliest terror attack in U.S. history.
Plea Deals for 9/11 Masterminds Sparking Outrage and Disappointment
The plea deals have brought into question the future of the military commissions system used to try detainees at Guantánamo Bay. Critics argue that the system has failed to deliver swift and effective justice to the victims of terrorism, while supporters maintain that it provides the necessary flexibility and safeguards to ensure fair trials.
The sentencing of the three 9/11 masterminds is scheduled to take place in Guantánamo Bay on August 5. The outcome will undoubtedly have a profound impact on the families of the victims, the survivors, and the course of justice for one of the darkest chapters in American history.
