The Justice Department made the request, claiming that Secretary Austin has the authority to revoke the agreement.
The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals has temporarily blocked the plea deal with four alleged conspirators of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The Department of Justice requested that a plea deal be blocked claiming that Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin had the authority to do so.
The defense secretary had ordered the plea agreement to be revoked in August, but a military judge ruled that this order could not be implemented because the plea deal was already being enacted. The four conspirators, which include the alleged organizer of the 9/11 attacks Khalid Shaikh Mohammad, had agreed to offer information on plans for the attack in exchange for life sentences in prison.
A three-judge panel ruled to pause the plea deal the Defense Department had made while they consider arguments in the case.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For wisdom for the judges as they pause the deal to consider the arguments surrounding the plea agreement.
- For Secretary Austin and DOJ officials as they seek to reverse the plea deal with the September 11 terrorists.
Sources: The Hill, Townhall, AP News
