Legal
Accused 9/11 Organizers’ Plea Deal Revocation Backed by Court
The main gate at the prison at the US Guantanamo Naval Base in Guantanamo Base, Cuba.
Photographer: Sylvie Lanteaume/AFP/Getty ImagesFormer US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III was well within his authority when he withdrew from controversial plea deals with three men accused of orchestrating the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, a divided federal appeals court said Friday.
“While mandamus and prohibition are extraordinary forms of relief, they are warranted in this case,” the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit said, vacating a military judge’s November 2024 order preventing the Defense Secretary’s withdrawal from the pretrial agreements.