WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) today reintroduced the Justice for 9/11 Act to nullify any plea deals made between the U.S. government and the Guantanamo Bay inmates who planned the attacks on September 11, 2001. This legislation is being reintroduced following a military judge’s decision that plea agreements could move forward. The Biden administration also recently released 11 Guantanamo Bay detainees to Oman.
“The court’s decision to uphold the plea deal for three 9/11 conspirators is alarming,” said Sen. Moran. “In addition to the plea deal, the Biden administration continues to use its final days in power to release some of the world’s most violent terrorists from Guantanamo Bay. These men should face trial for their crimes, and Congress must act quickly to pass this important legislation.”
“Giving a plea deal to the terrorist masterminds behind 9/11 is disgraceful and an insult to the victims of the attacks, as well at those who served to avenge them,” said Sen. Cotton. “These monsters should have faced justice decades ago; instead, Joe Biden has set the stage to let them go free. My bill will stop this travesty and prevent the Biden administration from replenishing the ranks of our terrorist enemies any further on his way out the door.”
“In the wake of terrorist savagery, our obligation is to deliver justice,” said Sen. McConnell. “However long it takes, those responsible for September 11th deserve nothing more, and the families of their victims deserve nothing less.”
The bill text can be found here.
Background:
- In 2008, Khalid Shaikh Mohammad was charged with multiple crimes for his role, including conspiracy, murder in violation of the law of war, attacking civilians, and terrorism and material support of terrorism.
- The Justice for 9/11 Act would prevent the Biden administration from offering plea deals to the 9/11 terrorists by requiring a trial and ensuring death penalty remains an option in sentencing.
- The bill would also require the terrorist be kept at Guantanamo Bay in solitary confinement and prohibit them from being extradited to another country.
