Politics · United States · 44 mins ago
US Supreme Court rejects bid to restore 9/11 plea deals
The US Supreme Court rejected a bid to restore plea deals for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two co-defendants accused of plotting the September 11, 2001, attacks.
The agreements would have required guilty pleas and removed the risk of execution, with life in prison without parole instead.
Former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin cancelled the deals in 2024, saying he should decide whether to allow agreements in a case this serious.
The defendants argued that Austin acted too late, but an appeals court upheld his authority to withdraw the deals.
The Supreme Court’s decision leaves the agreements cancelled and returns the case to military courts at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.
A trial is scheduled for June 2028, though the case has faced years of legal delays.
The long-running proceedings matter to the accused and to September 11 victims’ families, who have differed over whether trials or plea deals offer the better path to justice.
The US Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear appeals seeking to restore plea agreements for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two co-defendants accused in the September 11 attacks.
The agreements would have removed the risk of execution in exchange for guilty pleas.
Former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin revoked the deals in 2024, saying the decision on the death penalty should rest with him.
The court’s action leaves in place an appeals court ruling that Austin had authority to cancel the agreements.
A trial date has been set for June 2028.
- Who
- Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and co-defendants Walid bin Attash and Mustafa al-Hawsawi sought to revive their plea agreements.
- What
- The Supreme Court declined to hear their appeals, leaving the agreements revoked.
- When
- Monday, October 19, 2026.
- Where
- The US Supreme Court; the defendants are held at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.
- Why
- The appeals sought to restore agreements that would have spared the defendants the death penalty in exchange for guilty pleas.
Defendants and their attorneys
US government and Lloyd Austin
Authority to revoke the agreements
Defendants and their attorneys
Defense attorneys argued Austin acted too late and that his action violated controlling military law.
US government and Lloyd Austin
The government defended Austin’s decision, and an appeals court found he had authority to cancel the agreements.
Purpose and consequences of the agreements
Defendants and their attorneys
Defense attorneys described the agreements as the best chance for finality in the case.
US government and Lloyd Austin
Some victims’ relatives and groups representing them opposed the agreements and favored a trial.
Mohammed and two co-defendants reached plea agreements that would have spared them the death penalty in exchange for guilty pleas.
Lloyd Austin revoked the agreements.
A panel of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld Austin’s decision.
A US Air Force judge set the trial for June 2028.
The Supreme Court declined to hear the defendants’ appeals.
- Defendants
- Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Walid bin Attash and Mustafa al-Hawsawi
- Plea agreements
- Reached in 2024; would have removed the risk of the death penalty
- Revocation
- Lloyd Austin revoked the agreements in 2024
- Appeals ruling
- The D.C. Circuit upheld Austin’s authority in July 2025
- Trial date
- June 2028
5 sources
Supreme Court Will Not Revive Plea Deal for Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and 9/11 Defendants
US Supreme Court denies bid by accused 9/11 mastermind to revive plea deal
Supreme court rejects effort to revive plea deal for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in 9/11 attacks
US Supreme Court snubs bid to revive plea deal for accused 9/11 mastermind
Supreme Court backs Pentagon decision to throw out plea deals for 9/11 alleged conspirators
What people are saying
should rest with me
indisputably
It would be one thing if a trial were reasonably likely in the near future, but even the current summer 2028 trial date is entirely unrealistic given how many issues remain to be resolved.
prolonged the best chance for finality in the September 11 case in a quarter century