The Biden-Harris administration faced widespread public backlash as the Defense Department revoked a contentious plea deal concerning the 9/11 terrorists.

Friday's sudden reversal by the Pentagon on a plea deal taking the death penalty off the table for three 9/11 terrorists has sparked an investigation and appears now to have been born out of panic over the public's reaction to the initial agreement, as Fox News reports.

Initially, the plea deals, reached by Pentagon prosecutors, proposed to eliminate the death penalty for three individuals linked to the 9/11 attacks. These agreements were unexpectedly revoked by Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III, who cited significant authority in his decision.

The revoked deals were intended for Khalid Shaikh Mohammad, the 9/11 mastermind, and his associates Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarak Bin 'Attash and Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawsawi.

The Pentagon's Shift in Response to Public Outcry

In a memo released last Monday, Austin officially withdrew from the agreements. He also relieved from duty the military commission official who had initially signed off on these agreements.

The revelation that these plea deals were arranged without the knowledge or approval of President Joe Biden, nor were they made known to the families of the victims, added to the gravity of the backlash.

"Effective immediately, in the exercise of my authority, I hereby withdraw from the three pretrial agreements that you signed on July 31, 2024," Austin wrote in his memo.

House Armed Services Committee Initiates Probe

The House Armed Services Committee, led by Chairman Mike Rogers, promptly began an investigation into the plea deals on the same day the revocation was announced.

Rogers expressed severe discontent with the initial plea deals, stating, "I, along with much of our nation and Congress, are deeply shocked and angered by news that the terrorist mastermind and his associates who planned the September 11, 2001 terror attacks, which killed nearly 3000 innocent people, were offered a plea deal."

Meanwhile, the White House maintained its distance from the controversy. A spokesperson from the National Security Council clarified, "The President and the White House played no role in this process."

Victims' Families and Public Reactions

The families of the victims and their advocates expressed both relief and frustration at the developments. Patrick Hendry, president of the Police Benevolent Association of the City of New York, commended the families' role in overturning the deals.

"The families of our 9/11 heroes channeled their anguish and outrage into a powerful message. It’s thanks to their courage that these shameful plea agreements have been reversed," Hendry stated.

Brett Eagleson, president of 9/11 Justice, voiced frustration over the lack of communication with the families, saying, "We are astounded and deeply frustrated that our families were not consulted or even notified in advance of the plea deal or its subsequent revocation."

Summary of Events and Looking Forward

The accused, Mohammad, Attash, and al Hawsawi, were known to have provided support to the hijackers of the planes used in the September 11, 2001 attacks that resulted in nearly 3,000 deaths.

With the revocation of the plea deals, these individuals remain eligible for the death penalty, reflecting a continued pursuit of justice for the victims and their families.

This event underscores the complexity of handling cases related to acts of terrorism, especially those as significant as the 9/11 attacks.

In conclusion, the revocation of the plea deals represents a significant shift in how justice is being pursued for the 9/11 attacks. It highlights the importance of transparency and the involvement of all stakeholders, particularly the victims' families, in decisions of such grave consequence.

The investigation by the House Armed Services Committee continues, seeking to address the procedural flaws and ensuring such oversights are not repeated.