The Biden administration has urged a federal appeals court to block a plea agreement for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged architect of the 9/11 attacks, and two co-defendants, which would spare them the death penalty, reports CNN.
In a brief filed Tuesday, the Justice Department argued that accepting the pleas would deny the government a public trial and the opportunity to seek capital punishment for the attacks that claimed nearly 3,000 lives. The department also criticized the military judge's decision to uphold the deal, claiming it undermines the defense secretary's authority in a case of "unique national importance."
The plea agreement, negotiated by the Defense Department and approved after years of legal delays, has divided 9/11 victims' families. Some view it as the best resolution to a prosecution plagued by logistical and legal challenges, while others demand a trial and potential executions.
The Defense Department later reversed its stance on the plea deal, with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin seeking to overturn it, arguing that only he should decide whether death penalties are appropriate in a case of this magnitude. However, military judges and appeals panels have rejected Austin's efforts, asserting the agreement's validity.
Defense attorneys maintain that the plea deal, approved by senior Pentagon officials and military prosecutors, is legally binding and that Austin’s intervention constitutes unlawful political interference.
The Justice Department has requested a temporary delay in proceedings, asserting that the defendants would not be significantly impacted given the lengthy timeline of the case. The government contends the plea deal would result in life sentences, bypassing the possibility of capital punishment and public accountability.
The debate comes as families of victims gather at Guantanamo Bay, where Mohammed was scheduled to enter a guilty plea this week. Legal experts warn that unresolved issues, including the defendants’ torture under CIA custody, could jeopardize any final verdicts.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
