Photo: Getty Images / Getty Images News / Getty Images
A federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., has rejected plea deals for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two other men accused of orchestrating the 9/11 attacks. The decision, announced on Friday (July 11), follows a divided ruling by a three-judge panel that supported former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's decision to cancel the agreements. The plea deals would have allowed the defendants to plead guilty in exchange for life sentences, potentially removing the death penalty option.
The court found that Austin had the legal authority to withdraw the agreements, citing that the promises made in the deals had not yet been fulfilled. Judges Patricia Millett and Neomi Rao agreed with Austin's decision, noting that it was necessary to avoid unlawful influence challenges.
The ruling has left the defendants' legal teams considering whether to appeal to the full appeals court or the U.S. Supreme Court. The case, which has been stalled for years, remains contentious due to issues surrounding admissible evidence and classified materials.