New York City firefighters have voiced their deep disappointment and outrage following a plea deal that allows the 9/11 terrorists to escape the death penalty. Khalid Shaikh Mohammad, Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarak Bin ‘Attash, and Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawsawi have been awaiting their trials at Guantánamo Bay. This week, the Department of Defense announced that a plea agreement had been reached with the three men.
According to a letter from Rear Adm Aaron C. Rugh, the terrorists agreed to plead guilty to all charges, including the murder of 2,976 people, in exchange for the removal of the death penalty. The sentencing will be determined by a panel of military officers.
Andrew Ansbro, president of the FDNY Uniformed Firefighters Association, expressed the sentiment of many firefighters, saying, “We are disgusted and disappointed that these three terrorists were given a plea deal and allowed to escape the ultimate justice while each month three more heroes from the FDNY are dying from World Trade Center illnesses.”
Brett Eagleson, president of the group 9/11 Justice, criticized the plea deal’s lack of transparency and stressed the importance of providing families with access to information about the attacks. “These plea deals should not perpetuate a system of closed-door agreements,” Eagleson said.
The Washington Post reported that the plea deals have been under negotiation for over two years, with the terrorists scheduled to enter their guilty pleas in the coming weeks. The agreement includes provisions for the terrorists to answer questions from victims’ families regarding their roles in the attacks. Sentencing hearings are expected to start in the summer of 2025.
Retired NYPD officer Jim Smith, whose wife Moira was the only female police officer killed on 9/11, expressed his dismay, stating, “The prosecution and families have waited for 23 years to have our day in court… They should receive the highest penalty.”
Lawmakers and public figures have also condemned the plea deal. House Speaker Mike Johnson criticized the Biden administration, calling the deal a “slap in the face” to the victims’ families. Elon Musk and Donald Trump Jr. took to social media to voice their objections, highlighting the perceived injustice of the plea agreements.
