Court Upholds 9/11 Suspects' Plea Deals Amid Criticism

A military appeals court has ruled that plea deals for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two other defendants in the 9/11 attacks can proceed, thwarting Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's attempt to nullify them. The plea agreements, reached last summer, allow the men to plead guilty in exchange for avoiding the death penalty, a decision that has sparked outrage among victims' families and some lawmakers. Austin, who argued that he should have the authority to decide on such agreements due to the gravity of the attacks, was deemed to have exceeded his authority by the court. The decision underscores ongoing legal and ethical debates surrounding the treatment and prosecution of Guantanamo detainees and reflects broader dissatisfaction with the handling of justice for the 9/11 attacks. Critics argue the plea deals bypassed victims' families and failed to deliver full justice for the nearly 3,000 killed. The Pentagon has the option to appeal the ruling to the D.C. Circuit federal appeals court, but no such motion has been filed yet.