Biden administration makes huge U-turn in plea deal offer for 9/11 'mastermind' that sparked outrage

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has dramatically revoked a proposed plea deal for the alleged mastermind of the 9/11 attacks.

Austin said Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and two accomplices were no longer eligible for life sentences in prison without the prospect of the death penalty in return for a guilty plea.

They were offered the deal just two days ago, on Wednesday, triggering widespread outrage. 

Austin also relieved the official responsible for the plea deal of her duties. Retired Brigadier General Susan K Escallier will no longer oversea the case, with Austin himself assuming responsibility for it.

 The development was first reported by The New York Times Friday evening. 

Friday's shock U-turn means Mohammed and his accomplices - Walid Bin Attash and Mustafa al-Hawasawi - could once again face the death penalty.

Announcing the revocation of the plea deal, Austin told the Times that the high stakes nature of the case means 'the responsibility for such a decision should rest with me.'

He added: 'Effective immediately, in the exercise of my authority, I hereby withdraw from the three pretrial agreements that you signed on July 31, 2024.'

Wednesday's plea deal announcement was the culmination of two years of negotiations between prosecutors and defense attorneys. 

The case has been bogged down in pre-trial hearings since 2012.  

All three suspects have been held in Guantanamo Bay since the early 2000s. 

News of Wednesday's plea deal left families of many of the 3,000 murdered in the September 2001 terror attacks 'deeply troubled.' 

Some were angered that the option to executed the suspected terrorists had been removed.

And many said they feared the deal means they'd never find out who was really behind the attacks on New York, Washington DC and Pennsylvania, amid suspicions that Saudi Arabia was deeply-involved in the terror spectacular. 

9/11 Justice President Brett Eagleson explained: 'We are deeply troubled by these plea deals. While we acknowledge the decision to avoid the death penalty, our primary concern remains access to these individuals for information.

'These plea deals should not perpetuate a system of closed-door agreements, where crucial information is hidden without giving the families of the victims the chance to learn the full truth.

'We need to know the extent of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's involvement in the 9/11 attacks. 

'This is not just about punishment, it is about uncovering the truth and ensuring justice for the nearly 3,000 Americans who lost their lives on that tragic day.

'Our stance is clear: if a deal is to be made, it must ensure that we obtain the vital evidence these individuals possess.'