9/11 Accused Admit Guilt at Tribunal

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, four others charged again

(NEWSER) - Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, self-proclaimed mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, and four alleged co-conspirators face new conspiracy and murder charges filed today by US military prosecutors. All five defendants were originally charged during George W. Bush’s presidency, but those charges were dropped when President Obama attempted to move the trials into civilian court, Reuters reports. Obama announced last month that the prosecutions will be moved back to a military tribunal at Guantanamo, where the suspects are being held. Fox News notes that the move announced by the Department of Defense today paves the way for an arraignment. More»

New York trial represents proper US tradition, AG says

(NEWSER) - Confessed 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed and his four co-defendants will face the death penalty, Eric Holder confirmed today, and the AG leapt to defend the decision to try them in a civilian court in New York. They will “answer for their alleged crimes in a courthouse just blocks away from where the Twin Towers once stood,” Holder said. “I fully expect to direct prosecutors to seek the death penalty against each of the alleged 9/11 conspirators.” More»

(NEWSER) - While relatives of the victims waited in the courtroom, the five Guantanamo inmates accused of conspiring in the 9/11 attacks boycotted a pretrial hearing this morning, the Miami Herald reports. The proceeding was intended to determine whether the defendants who aren't representing themselves are competent to stand trial. Alleged mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and others learned yesterday they would not be allowed to speak, defense lawyers said. More»

Confessions could block death penalty for suspects seeking 'martrydom'

(NEWSER) - Five 9/11 suspects yesterday withdrew offers to plead guilty when a military judge warned them that confessions could foil their plans to get the death penalty. A death order may require a military jury conviction, he said. The men want the death penalty so they can die as martyrs. "Are you saying if we plead guilty we will not be sentenced to death?" asked self-described terror mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed. "We don't want to waste time." More»

But whether either candidate could find advantage remains uncertain

(NEWSER) - If everything goes right, the trial of the five Guantanamo Bay detainees charged in connection with the 9/11 attacks could begin within days of their seventh anniversary—and just as the presidential campaign begins its most heated stretch, Politico reports. Such a development would usually be a gift to Republicans, but this year it could help—or devastate—either candidate. More»