Lawmakers Seek To Prevent No-Death-Penalty 9/11 Plea Deals With Bill

Lawmakers Seek To Prevent No-Death-Penalty 9/11 Plea Deals With Bill

It seems like some of our elected officials on Capitol Hill haven’t been happy about the idea of the failed 9/11 plea deals that were making headlines last week. While the deals were ultimately revoked, lawmakers are now taking action to make sure they stay that way. Let’s dive into this legislative piece and see what all the fuss is about.

The Justice for 9/11 Act: A Game-Changer

The “Justice for 9/11 Act” has been introduced to prevent the federal government from entering into death penalty-free plea deals for the accused 9/11 attackers, including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his cohorts. This legislation requires that a trial take place and keeps the death penalty on the table as a possible punishment option for these terrorists.

Rep. Mike Lawler and other Republican lawmakers, including Sen. Tom Cotton, are sponsoring this bill. The move comes in response to a controversial military plea deal that would have spared the death penalty for the accused, which was later rescinded by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin after intense backlash.

The Congressional Investigation

The House announced after the plea deals came to light that it was launching investigations into the Biden administration’s potential involvement in the plea deal that initially spared death penalties for the 9/11 terrorists. James Comer, Chair of the House Oversight Committee, has claimed that the negotiation for the plea deal was conducted entirely within the Biden administration, despite the White House denying any Presidential involvement.

The Long Road to Justice

The trial of the 9/11 terrorists has faced numerous delays over the years due to issues surrounding the admissibility of torture evidence, judicial resignations, and the 2020 health emergency. A 2015 law prevents Guantanamo Bay detainees from being transferred to the continental United States for criminal proceedings, further complicating matters.

This plea agreement, which has since been revoked, would have allowed Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and others to plead guilty in exchange for avoiding the death penalty. The negotiations had been challenged by the defendants’ torture and mental health issues.

Impact on 9/11 Families

Opinions among 9/11 victims’ families have been divided, with some supporting the idea of a plea deal and others wanting to see trials for the alleged perpetrators.

The “Justice for 9/11 Act” seeks to ensure that the families of 9/11 victims have their day in court and that the perpetrators face the full weight of American justice. As this bill makes its way through Congress, it’s clear that the fight for justice for the victims of 9/11 is far from over.

Sources

  1. Bill would bar future death penalty-free 9/11 plea deals for KSM, terror plotters: ‘Anything less is a disservice’
  2. House launches probe into Biden admin plea deal that allows 9/11 mastermind to avoid death penalty

More from Around the Web

Senator Josh Hawley reacted when the plea deal was first announced:

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin rejected the plea deals:

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