News organizations push to unseal 9/11 plea deal at Guantanamo

Seven news organizations have filed a legal motion requesting the U.S. military commission at Guantanamo Bay to unseal the plea agreement made with Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two other defendants accused of orchestrating the September 11 attacks. This plea deal, which was sealed shortly after being filed, has faced backlash from Republican lawmakers and families of victims from the attacks, leading to heightened public interest in its contents. The situation escalated when Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin revoked the plea deal, which had been the result of two years of negotiations. This decision has caused significant disruption in the ongoing pretrial hearings, which have been in progress for over a decade. The defendants have since suspended their participation in pretrial hearings, claiming that Austin's actions were illegal and constituted unlawful interference. The legal representatives of the defendants have raised new complaints regarding the revocation of the plea deal, which has further complicated the legal proceedings. The news organizations argue that the military commission has not demonstrated any substantial harm to U.S. interests that would justify keeping the plea agreement sealed. The motion filed by the news organizations emphasizes the public's right to know the terms of the plea deal, especially as it has become a focal point of political controversy. They contend that making the records public would help mitigate speculation and accusations surrounding the case. The ongoing legal challenges and the government's responses to them remain sealed, adding to the complexity of the situation. The military commission was established by the George W. Bush administration following the 2001 attacks, and the 9/11 case continues to face delays due to various factors, including staff turnover and the logistical challenges of conducting trials at Guantanamo. Access to the proceedings is limited, requiring members of the press and public to travel to the base or watch remotely from military installations in the U.S.