9/11 Masterminds Reach Plea Deals, Sparing Them from Death Penalty

Relatives of 9/11 victims are outraged after three of the plotters agreed to plead guilty in exchange for life sentences, avoiding the death penalty. Family members fear the defendants could be released in the future and are concerned about their living conditions at Guantanamo Bay.

The plea deals reached with the masterminds of the 9/11 attacks have ignited a firestorm of controversy, with families of victims expressing deep concerns and lawmakers criticizing the Biden administration.

On Wednesday, prosecutors agreed to plea agreements with Khalid Shaikh Mohammad, Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarak Bin Attash, and Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawsawi, who were awaiting trial in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The defendants are accused of aiding the 19 hijackers responsible for the attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people.

9/11 Masterminds Reach Plea Deals, Sparing Them from Death Penalty

Joe Connor, whose cousin and father were killed in terrorist attacks, fears the plea deals could lead to the release of the 9/11 plotters. "My dad's terrorists, the FALN, they were released. They were given clemency by the Clintons and Obama," Connor said. "It concerns me that these guys could end up in a U.S. prison and that someone might use politics to release them."

9/11 Families United, a group representing victims' families, has slammed the plea deals. Terry Strada, the national chair of the organization, believes the Biden administration pressured prosecutors to make the agreement. "They wanted this off their plate. It's an election year," Strada said. "The terrorists committed this heinous crime against the United States. They should have faced the charges, faced the trial, and faced the punishment. Since when do the people responsible for murder get to call the shots?"

9/11 Masterminds Reach Plea Deals, Sparing Them from Death Penalty

Some lawmakers have echoed these sentiments. Representative Tom Emmer (R-MN) called the plea deals "a slap in the face" to the victims' families. "These terrorists should have been punished to the fullest extent of the law," Emmer said.

In exchange for pleading guilty, the defendants will receive life sentences and will respond to questions from the victims' families regarding their roles in the attacks. However, Strada expressed concerns about the defendants' living conditions at Guantanamo Bay. "They get to exercise, walk outside, watch movies, and pick their menu," Strada said. "They live a very good life in Guantanamo Bay."

9/11 Masterminds Reach Plea Deals, Sparing Them from Death Penalty

In September 2023, President Biden rejected an earlier plea deal that would have allowed the defendants to avoid the death penalty. The defendants had demanded several conditions, including solitary confinement exemptions and a civilian-run program to treat supposed CIA-inflicted brain and gastrointestinal damage.

The plea deals mark a significant development in the long-running legal battle over the 9/11 attacks. While some victims' families are seeking closure, others believe the deals undermine justice and could potentially endanger the public in the future.

9/11 Masterminds Reach Plea Deals, Sparing Them from Death Penalty