Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin, D-Ill., has urged Department of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to restore plea agreements made with three alleged masterminds of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, which were rescinded last week.
“I implore Secretary Austin to overturn this profoundly disappointing decision, which undermines finality and justice for the families of 9/11 victims and highlights the ongoing issues with the military commissions process,” Durbin expressed on X.
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The Department of Defense announced last week that pre-trial agreements had been reached with Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarak Bin ‘Attash, and Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawsawi.
The specifics of the plea deals were not disclosed, but reports suggested that each of the accused could avoid the death penalty, according to the New York Post. Relatives of the 9/11 victims were reportedly informed by the Office of Military Commissions (OMC).
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Sen. Dick Durbin is calling on Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to reinstate a plea agreement for 9/11 masterminds that was revoked last week. (Getty Images)
The announcement was met with significant backlash, as family members of 9/11 victims expressed their concerns.
“Seeing this, I’m really worried that we won’t receive justice for my cousin and all the thousands who lost their lives that day, along with their families,” reflected Joe Connor, whose cousin, Steve Schlag, perished in the 9/11 attacks and whose father, Frank, died in the 1975 FALN terrorist attack in New York City.
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“It’s a slap in the face to America and our honored dead,” commented Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, regarding the decision.
Last Friday, Austin announced the withdrawal of the plea agreements and dismissed the official responsible for coordinating them.
“I have decided that due to the importance of the decision to enter into pre-trial agreements with the accused in the referenced case, the responsibility for such a decision should lie with me as the superior convening authority under the Military Commissions Act of 2009,” Austin stated in his order.
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was among those accused terrorists who entered into a plea agreement. (AP)
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“Effective immediately, I hereby retract your authority in this case to engage in a pre-trial agreement and retain that authority for myself. Effective immediately, by using my authority, I hereby withdraw from the three pre-trial agreements you signed on July 31, 2024 in this case,” Austin stated.
Fox News Digital’s Stepheny Price, Louis Casiano, and Ashley Papa contributed to this report.
