The recent plea deal allowing the 9/11 terrorists to avoid the death penalty has provoked strong reactions from New York City firefighters and families of the victims. Khalid Shaikh Mohammad, along with his co-conspirators Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarak Bin ‘Attash and Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawsawi, reached an agreement with the Department of Defense to plead guilty in exchange for the removal of the death penalty.
Rear Adm Aaron C. Rugh, the chief prosecutor, announced the deal in a letter to the victims’ families, stating that the accused terrorists would plead guilty to all charges, including the murders of 2,976 people on September 11, 2001. They will be sentenced by a panel of military officers instead.
Andrew Ansbro, president of the FDNY Uniformed Firefighters Association, voiced the collective frustration of firefighters. “On behalf of New York City firefighters, especially the survivors of the September 11th terrorist attack, we are disgusted and disappointed that these three terrorists were given a plea deal and allowed to escape the ultimate justice while each month three more heroes from the FDNY are dying from World Trade Center illnesses,” Ansbro stated.
The grassroots group 9/11 Justice, represented by president Brett Eagleson, expressed concerns over the closed-door nature of the plea deals. Eagleson emphasized the importance of transparency and the need for families to gain access to critical information about the attacks.
According to the Washington Post, the terrorists are scheduled to enter their guilty pleas in hearings set for the next few weeks. The plea negotiations have been ongoing for over two years. The agreement includes a provision for the terrorists to respond to questions from the victims’ families regarding their involvement in the attacks, with sentencing hearings expected to begin in the summer of 2025.
Jim Smith, a retired NYPD officer whose wife Moira was the only female police officer killed on 9/11, expressed his disappointment, stating, “The prosecution and families have waited for 23 years to have our day in court… They should receive the highest penalty.”
Prominent figures, including lawmakers and public personalities, have also criticized the plea deal. House Speaker Mike Johnson and Rep. Nicole Malliotakis condemned the Biden administration’s decision, with Johnson describing the deal as a “slap in the face” to the victims’ families. Elon Musk and Donald Trump Jr. echoed these sentiments on social media.
