Supreme Court turns away appeal from 9/11 defendants seeking to reinstate plea deals

The Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear appeals from three men accused of plotting the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks who are currently awaiting trial at the infamous Guantánamo Bay prison.  

The justices turned away petitions from Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two alleged accomplices, Mustafa al-Hawsawi and Walid bin ‘Attash, without explanation. 

Justice Brett Kavanaugh recused himself from the Mohammed and al-Hawsawi petition. 

The three prisoners were seeking to reinstate plea deals in which they agreed to plead guilty and give detailed confessions about their roles in the deadliest terrorist attack in U.S. history. In exchange, prosecutors would not have sought the death penalty.  

A Pentagon official approved the deals in late July 2024, but then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin nullified them two days later following criticism from some victims’ families.  

A military judge ruled that Austin’s attempted withdrawal had come........

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