Newly unsealed documents have provided a detailed look at the evidence against Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind behind the September 11, 2001, attacks. These documents include Mohammed’s statements over the years, phone records, and other evidence pointing to his coordination with the hijackers involved in the attacks. Prosecutors also presented videos related to al-Qaida’s planning, along with government simulations of the hijacked flights. However, many specifics remain redacted or undisclosed.
The evidence also includes photographs and death certificates for the 2,976 victims who died in the attacks, including those killed at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and aboard Flight 93, which crashed into a field in Pennsylvania after passengers attempted to thwart the hijackers. These newly released materials form part of the framework for the military’s case against Mohammed, who prosecutors allege conceived and executed much of al-Qaida’s plot.
This case centers on a plea agreement that Mohammed and two co-defendants entered into, where they agreed to plead guilty in exchange for life sentences instead of the death penalty. However, the Defense Department is contesting this plea deal in court, and several major media outlets, including The Associated Press, The New York Times, and others, are suing for the release of the full plea agreement.
As part of the deal, an unusual step has been agreed upon: a hearing where the evidence against the accused will be publicly presented, a rare move in plea bargains to ensure the victims’ families and the public have access to the evidence. Additionally, Mohammed has agreed to answer questions from the victims’ families.
The case has been stalled for over two decades, with pretrial hearings at Guantanamo Bay ongoing. Legal arguments about the admissibility of statements made by Mohammed, who endured torture in CIA custody, and the logistical challenges of holding a trial at Guantanamo have further delayed proceedings.
