Military judge reinstates plea deals for 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two others

Image: Jihad Watch

A military judge ruled on Wednesday that plea deals sparing Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, and two other accused terrorists from the death penalty must remain in place.

This surprising decision comes three months after Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin annulled the controversial plea agreements, which had been offered by the Office of Military Commissions in July. 

The ruling, issued by Air Force Col. and Judge Matthew McCall at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, was first reported by the Associated Press but has not yet been made publicly available.

Families of the nearly 3,000 victims of the devastating attacks expressed outrage at the judge's decision.

“I’m furious that this judge reversed the earlier decision, allowing these defendants to accept plea deals,” said retired police officer Jimmy Smith, whose wife, Moira, was killed on September 11, 2001. “They committed the gravest crime in this country and deserve the harshest punishment, which is the death penalty.”

Smith also criticized the timing of the announcement. “I don’t believe this was coincidental. They waited until after the election to release this ruling, just like they overturned it earlier to benefit the Democrats during the campaign.”

Dan D’Allara, whose twin brother, NYPD officer John D’Allara, died in the attacks, urged President-elect Donald Trump to take immediate action. 

“The first executive order President Trump should sign is one authorizing the execution of the five admitted 9/11 plotters,” D’Allara told The Post. “They are cowards who murdered thousands of innocent people and continue to harm others.”

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)