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US Supreme Court Rejects Plea Deal for 9/11 Mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed
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News18•19-10-2026, 20:15
US Supreme Court Rejects Plea Deal for 9/11 Mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed
- •The US Supreme Court has rejected an effort to revive a plea deal for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the accused mastermind of the September 11, 2001 attacks.
- •The agreement would have spared Mohammed the death penalty in exchange for a guilty plea and a life sentence without parole.
- •Former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin threw out the original plea deal in 2024, asserting that such decisions belong with the defense secretary.
- •Relatives of 9/11 victims remain divided, with some favoring a trial for justice and others wanting closure.
- •A trial date for the case has been scheduled for 2028.
Key Questions Answered
The Supreme Court rejected an effort to revive the plea deal after a divided appeals court panel found that former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin acted within his authority when he threw out the agreement in 2024.
The agreement would have spared Mohammed the risk of execution in exchange for a guilty plea and a sentence of life in prison without parole.
A trial date has been set for 2028 following the legal battles over the plea agreement.
