New York City firefighters and families of 9/11 victims are expressing profound disappointment over a plea deal that spares the 9/11 terrorists from the death penalty. The agreement, announced by the Department of Defense, involves Khalid Shaikh Mohammad, the chief architect of the attacks, and his accomplices Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarak Bin ‘Attash and Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawsawi.
The letter from Rear Adm Aaron C. Rugh, the chief prosecutor, revealed that the terrorists agreed to plead guilty to all charges, including the murders of nearly 3,000 people, in exchange for the death penalty being taken off the table. Their sentences will be determined by a panel of military officers.
Andrew Ansbro, president of the FDNY Uniformed Firefighters Association, spoke on behalf of firefighters and survivors. “We are disgusted and disappointed that these three terrorists were given a plea deal and allowed to escape the ultimate justice while each month three more heroes from the FDNY are dying from World Trade Center illnesses,” Ansbro declared.
Brett Eagleson, president of the grassroots group 9/11 Justice, criticized the lack of transparency in the plea deals. He stressed the need for family members to access information about the attacks and opposed the secretive nature of the agreements.
The Washington Post reported that the terrorists are set to enter their guilty pleas in the coming weeks, with plea negotiations having taken over two years. The agreement also allows the terrorists to answer questions from victims’ families regarding their roles in the attacks. Sentencing hearings are expected to start in the summer of 2025.
Retired NYPD officer Jim Smith, whose wife Moira was the only female police officer killed on 9/11, expressed his frustration, stating, “The prosecution and families have waited for 23 years to have our day in court… They should receive the highest penalty.”
Lawmakers and public figures have also voiced their disapproval. House Speaker Mike Johnson condemned the plea deal as a “slap in the face” to the victims’ families, and Rep. Nicole Malliotakis echoed these sentiments. High-profile personalities like Elon Musk and Donald Trump Jr. also criticized the decision on social media, highlighting the perceived injustice of the plea agreements.
