US Judge Throws Out 9/11 Mastermind's Confessions Ahead of 2028 Trial
Thestandard · 2 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
A US military judge ruled Friday that confessions obtained from alleged 9/11 attacks mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed by FBI agents are inadmissible and cannot be used against him at trial. The decision marks a significant setback for prosecutors as they prepare their case against Mohammed and three co-defendants nearly 23 years after the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil.
Key Points
- Military judge Lt. Col. Michael Schrama ruled that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed's confessions to FBI agents were involuntary due to CIA psychological conditioning and severe coercion
- The judge found FBI agents intentionally failed to inform Mohammed of his right to remain silent and to consult a lawyer before questioning
- Trial date set for June 5, 2028, at the US naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
- Mohammed, known as "KSM," was captured in March 2003 in Pakistan and held by the CIA before transfer to Guantanamo in 2006
- Prosecutors can appeal the ruling, which comes just before the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people
Why It Matters
The ruling eliminates a substantial portion of the prosecution's evidence and raises further questions about whether the defendants can receive a fair trial after being subjected to brutal CIA interrogation techniques, including waterboarding. Legal experts expect prosecutors to appeal, as the case has already faced numerous delays since Mohammed was first charged in 2008 .
The ruling eliminates a substantial portion of the prosecution's evidence and raises further questions about whether the defendants can receive a fair trial after being subjected to brutal CIA interrogation techniques, including waterboarding. Legal experts expect prosecutors to appeal, as the case has already faced numerous delays since Mohammed was first charged in 2008 .