Court Overturns 9/11 Plea Deals for Masterminds

A divided federal appeals court ruled that former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin acted within his authority when he canceled plea deals for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two others accused of orchestrating the 9/11 attacks. The proposed deals would have allowed the men to plead guilty in exchange for life sentences without parole and provide answers for victims' families, but Austin argued that removing the death penalty should be his decision. The court found that Austin could withdraw from the agreements because their promises had not yet been executed, overturning previous military judges' decisions that upheld the deals. This ruling is a setback for efforts to resolve the Guantánamo prosecutions, which have been delayed by unresolved issues including torture and evidence. Critics say the decision prolongs justice for both the accused and 9/11 victims' families. Defense attorneys are considering further appeals, possibly to the full appeals court or the Supreme Court.