Pentagon Weighs Plea Deals for 9/11 Defendants, Potentially Avoiding Death Penalty

The Pentagon is considering plea deals for the defendants in the 9/11 attacks, including suspected mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, which would allow them to escape the death penalty in exchange for accepting criminal responsibility for their actions. The potential plea deals have generated outrage among families of the victims, who have been waiting for years to see the defendants face trial. The prosecution of the defendants at Guantanamo Bay has been delayed due to complications surrounding the admissibility of evidence obtained through CIA interrogations. If a plea deal is reached, the Guantanamo prison could remain open indefinitely, as there is a law preventing the transfer of defendants to U.S. soil and federal custody.