Court Halts 9/11 Plea Deal as Biden Administration Challenges Agreement

The Biden administration seeks to overturn a plea deal for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and co-defendants, delaying resolution of the decades-long case.

A federal appeals court temporarily blocked the guilty plea of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of the September 11 attacks, and two co-defendants.
The Biden administration is challenging a plea deal negotiated by its own Defense Department that would have spared the defendants from the death penalty in exchange for life sentences without parole.
The plea deal, supported by some victims' families, was designed to provide finality and answers about the 2001 attacks but faces opposition from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who argues that death penalty decisions should rest with his office.
The case has been stalled for over two decades due to legal and logistical challenges, including issues stemming from the defendants' torture during CIA custody, which complicates the admissibility of evidence.
The court's decision delays proceedings until at least January 22, with the possibility of further arguments and a new administration potentially influencing the case's direction.