A judge at the military commission in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, has ruled that settlement agreements made by alleged September 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two others were valid. In doing so, he blocked an order from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to reject the settlement agreements. an official said Wednesday.
WASHINGTON – A judge of the military commission in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, has ruled that plea bargains hit by alleged Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two co-defendants were valid, overturning an order from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to reject the plea deals and continue the trial, an administration official said Wednesday.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the order, from Air Force Col. Matthew McCall, has not yet been publicly posted or officially announced.