Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the accused mastermind of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, will stand trial beginning June 5, 2028, according to a ruling by military judge Air Force Lt. Col. Michael A. Mohammed faces prosecution alongside three alleged co-conspirators—Walid bin Attash, Ali Abdul Aziz Ali, and Mustafa al-Hawsawi—at the U.S. naval base at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, where they have been detained since 2006.
Trial Date Set After Discarded Plea Agreement
According to Associated Press reporting, the June 2028 trial date arrived after Lt. Col. Schrama rejected a January 2027 start date requested by prosecutors. The additional 18-month delay is necessary to resolve ongoing pretrial disputes, including fierce disagreements over what evidence can be presented in court. This scheduling step follows a split federal appeals court decision last summer that threw out a potential plea agreement. That discarded deal would have allowed Mohammed to plead guilty in exchange for a life sentence without parole while sparing him the risk of execution, while also obligating the defendants to answer lingering questions from victims’ families. The Biden administration ultimately repudiated that negotiated agreement after two years of discussions.
Decades of Legal Delays and Torture Disclosures
The path to prosecuting the 9/11 co-conspirators has dragged on for more than two decades, testing the Obama-era military commissions system through continuous challenges over rules and procedures. Defense lawyers argue that much of the holdup stems from government efforts to conceal details of torture used against detainees at secret CIA prisons before their transfer to Guantánamo Bay, as detailed by the Associated Press. Mohammed was captured in Pakistan in 2003 and transferred to Cuba three years later. A 2014 Senate report revealed that the CIA subjected Mohammed and other conspirators to “enhanced interrogation techniques,” including waterboarding Mohammed 183 times in what the report described as a series of near-drownings.
Did you know?
Mohammed was originally charged and arraigned in 2008 with war crimes and murder in connection with the nearly 3,000 people who died when hijacked planes struck the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a field in Pennsylvania.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the co-defendants scheduled to stand trial with Khalid Sheikh Mohammed?
According to the Associated Press, Mohammed is scheduled to be tried alongside Walid bin Attash, Ali Abdul Aziz Ali, and Mustafa al-Hawsawi.
Where is the trial scheduled to take place?
The proceedings will take place at the U.S. naval base at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, according to Associated Press coverage.
Why was the previous plea deal abandoned?
A federal appeals court threw out the agreement last summer, and the Biden administration repudiated the deal after two years of negotiations, according to the Associated Press.
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