The news that three terrorists involved in the September 11 terror attacks would be spared the death penalty after striking a plea deal with prosecutors sparked swift reaction. The terrorists – Khalid Shaikh Mohammad, Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarak Bin Attash, and Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawsawi – were accused of providing support to the 19 terrorists who carried out the attacks. Family members of the nearly 3,000 victims expressed anger and disappointment, feeling that justice had not been served. Those affected by the attacks waited patiently for years for a trial and now felt let down by the outcome of the plea deal.
Loved ones of the victims, such as Daniel D’Allara and Jim Smith, both of whom had family members killed in the attacks, expressed their disappointment upon hearing about the plea deal. Brett Eagleson, who lost his father in the attacks, called the timing of the plea deal “sh–ty” and criticized the move as an attempt to close the chapter on 9/11 and move on. The pain and anger felt by those directly impacted by the attacks were echoed by lawmakers and public officials who denounced the administration for the deal. Senators Ted Cruz and Lindsey Graham, as well as Speaker Mike Johnson, criticized the decision not to seek the death penalty for those responsible for the deaths of Americans on September 11.
Sen. JD Vance, during a campaign rally in Arizona, emphasized the importance of a president who prioritizes the killing of terrorists over negotiation with them. While lawmakers and public officials were vocal in their condemnation of the plea deal, Patrick Hendry of the Police Benevolent Association of the City of New York stated that the crime committed by the defendants warranted the ultimate punishment, and no leniency should be granted. The Biden administration was heavily criticized for showing weakness to adversaries and failing to deliver justice for the victims of the 9/11 attacks.
The plea deal struck by the terrorists involved in the 9/11 attacks was seen as a disgrace by many who believed that the ultimate punishment should have been sought. The families of the victims waited for over two decades for justice and felt that they were let down by the decision to spare the lives of those responsible. Lawmakers and public officials criticized the Biden administration for failing to prioritize the pursuit of justice for the victims of September 11. The plea deal was viewed as a slap in the face to those who lost their loved ones in the attacks and a failure to hold the perpetrators accountable for their actions.
