Austin's surprise decision to overrule 9/11 plea deals muddies military hearing
CBSN
Secretary of State Lloyd Austin's surprise decision to overrule the plea deals with three 9/11 terror defendants, including the attack's alleged architect Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, may muddy their ongoing military hearings.
Defense attorneys are arguing that the plea deals — which would have removed the threat of the death penalty for the three men — still stand, and prosecutors are suggesting that the pre-trial hearings might have to be frozen until the legalities of Austin's order are clarified. Defense attorneys are questioning whether Austin exercised undue or unlawful command influence.
On Friday, Austin signed a memo to the Convening Authority for Military Commissions to reserve for himself the authority to enter into pre-trial agreements with the accused and the 9/11 Military Commission cases, and he withdrew from the agreements signed in the cases. His memo was addressed to retired Brigadier Gen. Susan Escallier, who oversaw the deal. Austin said that he was withdrawing her authority in the case and reserving "such authority to myself."
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