Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin on Friday rescinded deals that would have spared the death penalty for the accused mastermind of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and two alleged accomplices.
In a memo, Austin, 70, announced that he was replacing the official responsible for signing the agency’s agreements and that he was taking control of the convening authority for military commissions.
“I have determined that against the background of the significance of the decision to initiate a preliminary investigation
agreements with the accused in the case referred to above, the responsibility for such a decision should rest with me as the superior convening authority under the Military Commissions Act of 2009,” Austin wrote.
“With immediate effect, I hereby revoke your authority in the case referred to above
enter into a preliminary investigation agreement and retain such authority,” he continued.
“Effective immediately, in exercise of my authority, I hereby withdraw from the three plea agreements you signed on July 31, 2024 in the above-mentioned case.”