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3 months ago
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The Biden administration's plea deal that will allow three terrorist 9/11 plotters to escape the death penalty even has Democrats concerned.
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Walid Bin Attash and Mustafa al-Hawasawi, plotters of the evil 9/11 terrorist attacks, have all agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy charges in exchange for life sentences.
The New York Times reported that the pleas, which will see the men dodge a death penalty trial, have been approved by Pentagon officials.
But the terrorist trio escaping from capital punishment due to the Biden administration's agreement is worrying both Republicans and Democrats in the Senate.
'I am very concerned about this plea deal,' Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said Thursday. 'I think we ought to scrutinize it very carefully.'
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the main 9/11 mastermind, shown after his capture during a raid in Pakistan in 2003 (L), and on the shown in captivity at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in 2009 (R). He struck a deal with U.S. officials to serve a life sentence in exchange for pleading guilty after being in captivity for around two decades. His deal infuriated senators who had to deal with the aftermath of the devastating attacks
'I think there are interests here that may not have been represented as fairly and aggressively as they should have been.'
Over 150 of the nearly 3,000 victims of the dreadful 9/11 plot were Connecticut residents, according to local outlets.
'I championed the 9/11 families and their legal action against Saudi Arabia,' Blumenthal continued. 'There is so much here that we don't know, and we have an obligation to tell the American people about the potential complicity, not only of these defendants, but of Saudi Arabia and other countries.'
The Democrat demanded the White House explain their reasoning for the deal.
'No explanation whatsoever. And they owe me and Congress an explanation. But more importantly, the 9/11 families and the American people.'
New Mexico Democrat Sen. Ben Ray Lujan told Daily Mail: 'The United States of America should be prosecuting fully those responsible for terrorist attacks on the United States soil. And I don't necessarily agree when sentences are lenient.'
On September 11, 2001, conspirators from al-Qaida seized control of airplanes and hit New York's World Trade Center, seen here, and the Pentagon near Washington
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., demanded the White House provide an explanation for why they decided to accept a plea deal that allows the masterminds behind 9/11 to escape the death penalty despite orchestrating an attack that killed thousands
New Mexico Democrat Sen. Bey Ray Lujan told DailyMail.com he does not necessarily agree when sentences are lenient
Republicans were also outraged by the Biden administration's deal.
'It's par for the course for these guys,' Sen. Marco Rubio said of the Biden administration negotiating the deal, saying he was 'not a fan' of the arrangement.
'They've released almost everybody that's there. Some of them have reengaged in terrorism.'
'If anyone should be facing the death penalty it should be these people,' he told DailyMail.com.
'We need a president who kills terrorists, not negotiates with them,' Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, said of the deal.
Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz called the deal 'a disgrace' adding 'these terrorists deserve the death penalty.'
'Anything short of their execution is a complete and total miscarriage of justice,' Cruz posted on X. 'Time and time again, this administration shows weakness to our adversaries.'
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said in a statement to DailyMail.com that it's a 'slap in the face' for the families of those murdered by the terrorists.
'The Biden-Harris Administration has done the unthinkable: they’ve agreed to a plea deal with Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the mastermind of the September 11th attacks, and two of his accomplices.'
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said: 'It's absolutely the wrong signal at the wrong time. The world is on fire. Terrorism is rampant. And we give a plea deal to the mastermind of 9/11? That just encourages more attacks.'
Hijacked United Airlines Flight 175 from Boston crashes into the south tower of the World Trade Center and explodes at 9:03 a.m. on September 11
The New York Times reported on Wednesday evening that the pleas, which will see the men dodge a death penalty trial, have been approved by Pentagon officials. Walid Bin Attash, left, and Mustafa al Hawsawi, right, are seen here
Firefighters walk towards one of the tower at the World Trade Center before it collapsed
Others were pleased with the Pentagon's deal, saying it helps bring closure to painful tragedy.
'9/11 was one of the worst day for many of us,' Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., told DailyMail.com. 'We've lived through that again and again and again.'
'And it's funny that there's an emotional scar there that's never going to be erased. But in a funny way, it's comforting that they'll never see the light of day where they're not in prison.'
The Coloradan said he was satisfied with the plea deal.
Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., also told DailyMail.com he was satisfied with the deal, saying the terrorist's guilty plea is 'compelling.'
Virginia Democrat Sen. Tim Kaine told DailyMail.com: 'It is generally good news. I think the ability to have some closure to that after so many years is generally positive.'
Others were surprised a deal was even reached.
'It's been more than 23 years since it occurred,' Republican Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota said. 'I wasn't sure if they were gonna get anything done on it.'
'I doubt that we would have gotten to the point of a death penalty execution anyway,' he added, saying he is glad they are 'out of circulation' and 'still in prison.'
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