Briefs

Rep. Malliotakis: Reviving plea deal forces 9/11 families to relive trauma

November 7, 2024 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

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SOUTH BROOKLYN AND WASHINGTON, DC — BROOKLYN CONGRESSMEMBER NICOLE MALLIOTAKIS (R-11) IS DENOUNCING the ruling of a military judge to revive plea agreements for alleged Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two co-defendants, her office announced on Thursday, Nov. 7. The Associated Press and Fox News reported that the military judge, Air Force Col. Matthew McCall’s ruled that the pre-brokered plea deals are valid, thus voiding Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s order earlier this year to toss the deals. Now with McCall’s ruling, the three 9/11 defendants could soon enter guilty pleas in the U.S. military courtroom at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in what has been a protracted prosecution case. However, government prosecutors or members of Congress could move to challenge the pleas; last year, Malliotakis and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, both Republicans who were re-elected on Tuesday, had written to Austin urging him to throw out any plea deal for the three accused. Pointing out that Austin was authorized as head of his department and through the Manual for Military Commissions, Malliotakis stated, “Failing to hold these terrorists accountable for their crimes against humanity is forcing the families of those who lost their lives on that fateful day or in the war on terror and the first responders still suffering and dying from 9/11-related illnesses to relive the physical and emotional trauma they endured 23 years ago.”

Malliotakis urged President Biden to schedule a trial immediately or for President-elect Trump to do so once he’s in office.

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