Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin revoked a plea deal made earlier this week that would have spared the accused mastermind of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and his two alleged accomplices the death penalty.
In a memorandum addressed to Susan Escallier, the convening authority for military commissions, Austin withdrew Escallier’s authority to enter into pre-trial agreements with Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two of his alleged accomplices. He told her that this authority sits with him.
