9/11 plea deal

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin unexpectedly revoked plea deals for three suspects in the September 11 attacks, expressing that such a significant case should proceed to trial. Austin stated that the families of victims and the American public deserve the opportunity for military commissions to be carried out, emphasizing he did not take the decision lightly. The plea agreements, which had been negotiated over two years, would have spared the defendants from facing the death penalty. The Guantanamo Bay case, involving accused mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, has faced delays due to legal complications, including the impact of torture on evidence. Families of 9/11 victims have expressed mixed reactions, with some favoring trials over plea deals. Both the Pentagon and the White House were reportedly unaware of the plea agreements prior to their announcement.