NEW YORK (AP) — Two decades after Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was captured in Pakistan and transferred to the U.S. military detention center at Guantanamo Bay, a federal judge has finally set a trial date for the alleged mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks. The military tribunal is slated to begin on June 5, 2028, with Mohammed and three co‑defendants facing charges related to the 2001 terrorist attacks.
Legal roadblocks persist
During a recent hearing, the presiding military judge ruled that prosecutors cannot rely on a 2007 confession Mohammed allegedly gave to the FBI. The statements were deemed tainted because they were obtained after Mohammed was subjected to “enhanced interrogation techniques,” including waterboarding, while in CIA custody. The government has chosen not to appeal the ruling, citing concerns that an appeal could further delay the already postponed trial.
Past attempts at a civilian trial fell apart
In 2009, then‑Attorney General Eric Holder announced plans to try Mohammed and four other suspects in a Manhattan federal court, a move supported by President Barack Obama at the time. However, security concerns and opposition from officials such as former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani led to the abandonment of the civilian trial proposal. Critics feared a public courtroom could become a platform for extremist propaganda and a potential security target.
Families of victims still seek justice
Victims’ families continue to press for a resolution. Terry Strada, national chair of 9/11 Families United, said she hopes a trial will eventually occur, but she would prefer Mohammed remain at Guantanamo indefinitely rather than see the death penalty removed as an option. “The death penalty fits the crime and would prevent future leaders from swapping him for American prisoners,” she explained.
Military commissions under scrutiny
Legal experts criticize the military commission system as inefficient and legally uncertain. Attorney Joshua Dratel, who has represented Mohammed, called the process “a charade” and warned that the commissions have become “a defense lawyer’s dream” due to endless litigation over their legality. Washington lawyer David Raskin, who would have led a civilian prosecution, expressed confidence that a civilian trial would have resulted in a conviction, contrasting it with the stalled military process.
Current status of the detainee
Mohammed remains incarcerated at Guantanamo Bay, where he has been held since September 5, 2006, after spending more than three years in undisclosed detention facilities abroad. A 2024 plea agreement that would have kept him imprisoned for life while sparing the death penalty collapsed last year, leaving his legal fate unresolved.
The case highlights ongoing challenges in balancing national security, accountability for past actions, and the rights of the accused. As the 2028 trial date approaches, the government must navigate complex legal terrain while addressing the lingering demand for justice from the families of the 9/11 victims.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
