Military hearings for accused Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two co-defendants at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, faced disruptions following Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s decision to discard a plea agreement. Defense lawyers argue that the plea deal remains valid and have halted involvement in pre-trial hearings while legal challenges to Austin’s decision unfold. The judge of the case acknowledged concerns about external pressures influencing the trial’s integrity.
Air Force Col. Matthew McCall addressed the potential impact of political pressure on the case and assured that he would not be swayed during Wednesday’s hearing, which was monitored by reporters at Fort Meade, Maryland. These recent events add to the ongoing disruptions in the U.S. military prosecution of defendants implicated in the 2001 terrorist attacks that claimed nearly 3,000 lives.
The military commission overseeing the 9/11 defendants’ trial has faced numerous challenges since its establishment during the U.S. war on terror, including legal questions arising from the defendants’ torture while in CIA custody. The latest developments follow the Defense Secretary’s override of the approved plea agreement in the 9/11 case, sparking debates over the legality of such actions within the Guantanamo proceedings framework.
Defense attorneys argue that Austin’s decision may lead to extended legal battles, further complicating a case that has stretched over two decades. The lead attorney for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed cautioned the court about the potential chaos resulting from the Defense Secretary’s intervention. Another defense attorney raised concerns about the ethical implications of continuing to engage in a system compromised by external interference.
Under the discarded plea agreement, the accused would have confessed in exchange for avoiding the death penalty, pledging to address any remaining questions from victims’ families. Following the tumultuous start on Wednesday, the hearings proceeded with the interrogation of an FBI witness, with only one defendant, Aamar al Baluchi, actively participating in the defense, as he had not agreed to the plea deal.
