The Military Court of Appeal ruled this on Tuesday Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin The United States cannot cancel plea deals for detainees at Guantanamo Bay, including alleged 9/11 architect Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Fox News has learned.
The court's opinion, which has not yet been formally published, said the plea agreements reached by military prosecutors and defense lawyers were valid and enforceable, and that Austin exceeded his authority when he later tried to invalidate them.
The Pentagon has the option of going to the federal appeals court in D.C. for emergency review, but the court docket showed no filings as of Tuesday afternoon.
Judge reinstates controversial 9/11 terror plea deals involving Khalid Sheikh Mohammed: report
The hearing is scheduled for next week Guantanamo BayIn Cuba, where Muhammad and two other defendants could plead guilty in separate hearings, with the death penalty abolished as a possible penalty.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin tried to cancel 9/11 plea deals in July. (Reuters/Violeta Santos Mora)
The petition deals in Long term condition The strikes against the terrorists were carried out over the summer and were approved by the senior official in the military commission at Guantanamo Bay.
Lawmakers, families of 9/11 victims react to plea deal with terrorists: 'A slap in the face'
A number of September 11 victims and American politicians have condemned the plea deals.
A photo obtained on March 1, 2003 shows Khalid Sheikh Mohammed shortly after his arrest. (HO/AFP via Getty Images)
“Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have weaponized Ministry of Justice “To go after their political opponents, but they are making a friendly deal with the 9/11 terrorists,” Vice President-elect J.D. Vance said at the time.
Photos of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed released by the FBI and President Bush during a press conference to announce the list of most wanted terrorists. (May/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The Pentagon canceled the agreements in July. “With immediate effect, and in the exercise of my authority, I withdraw from the three pretrial agreements I signed on July 31, 2024,” a letter from Austin said.
This is a developing news story. Please check back for updates. Fox News' Andrea Margolis contributed to this report.
