By Canadian Press

Defense Secretary overrides plea agreement for accused 9/11 mastermind and two other defendants

Aug 2, 2024 | 5:52 PM

WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Friday overrode a plea agreement reached earlier this week for the accused mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and two other defendants, reinstating them as death penalty cases.

The move comes two days after the military commission at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, announced it had reached plea deals with Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two accused accomplices in the attacks.

Ellen Knickmeyer, The Associated Press