Military prosecutors have decided not to appeal a recent ruling that suppressed a key confession from Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The decision aims to prevent further delays in the long-awaited trial, which is currently scheduled to begin on June 5, 2028.
The prosecution team's liaison to victims stated in a letter that an appeal could jeopardize the hard-earned trial date. Appeals can take years to resolve, a prospect military prosecutors are keen to avoid given the extensive delays that have already prolonged the legal process for victims' families. Mohammed and his alleged co-conspirators—Walid bin Attash, Mustafa al-Hawsawi, and Ammar al-Baluchi—are set to face trial in 2028.
The confession, made by Mohammed to the FBI in 2007, was thrown out by a military judge citing "severe coercion" and the fact that Mohammed did not have an opportunity to consult with an attorney. This ruling means the statements cannot be used in court.
Mohammed has been held at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, since 2003. In 2024, Mohammed and two co-defendants had agreed to a plea deal with the Biden administration that would have spared them the death penalty, but the deal was later revoked following public outcry, leading to further litigation.
The decision comes just before the 25th anniversary of the attacks, which killed nearly 3,000 people. Families of 9/11 victims have also urged the Trump administration to declassify documents related to Saudi Arabia's alleged involvement in the attacks.