Military Court Upholds 9/11 Plea Deals Against Defence Secretary's Challenge

A military appeals court has maintained the validity of plea deals for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two other 9/11 defendants, opposing Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin's attempt to nullify them. The deals allow the men to plead guilty and avoid the death penalty for the 9/11 attacks.

A military appeals court has ruled against US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin's attempt to nullify existing plea deals for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two others implicated in the 9/11 attacks. The decision supports agreements for the defendants to plead guilty and evade the death penalty.

The plea agreements, formed after extensive negotiations, faced controversy after Austin's order to void them. This move followed the argument over torture-tainted evidence used during pretrial hearings and Austin's assertion of authority due to the attacks' severity.

The military judge, Col. Matthew McCall, sided against Austin, leading to the Pentagon's appeal, which the appeals court has now rejected. Future actions by Austin or the Pentagon remain uncertain as options for further legal challenges are considered.

(With inputs from agencies.)