Full Breakdown
2028 9/11 Trial Moves Forward Without Key Confession
9/10/2026, 3:12:29 AM
Core Event
Jury selection for the military commission trial of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed—the alleged mastermind of the September 11, 2001 attacks—is scheduled to begin on June 5, 2028. Military prosecutors have decided not to appeal a recent ruling by Lt. Col. Michael Schrama that bars the use of Mohammed’s 2007 statements to the FBI, citing the risk that an appeal would jeopardize the hard-earned trial date. The case will proceed without that confession, relying on other evidence such as phone logs and financial records.
Background & Context
The prosecution of the five 9/11 detainees began under the Bush administration in 2008 and has been stalled by a series of legal disputes over the admissibility of evidence obtained after CIA “black-site” interrogations. After the detainees were transferred to Guantanamo Bay in 2006, the FBI re-interrogated them in an effort to secure “clean” confessions. In 2024, the Biden administration reached a plea agreement that would have spared the death penalty for Mohammed and two co-defendants in exchange for full admissions; the deal was later revoked by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin after public outcry, adding further delay.
Data & Statistics
The attacks on September 11, 2001 killed almost 3,000 people when hijackers struck the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a Pennsylvania field. The death toll includes victims such as Tom Resta’s brother John and his pregnant wife Sylvia, who were among those killed on that day.
Official Statements & Responses
- Lt. Col. Michael Schrama explained his ruling by noting that Mohammed’s statements were obtained after “severe coercion” and that the detainee had not been offered a chance to consult an attorney.
On-the-Ground Reports
- Tom Resta, whose brother John and sister-in-law Sylvia were killed on September 11, 2001, told the BBC that the memory “still chokes me up.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “After all this time, it still chokes me up,” — Tom Resta
- “He had an entire life that was just taken away from him,” — Suzann Rubinov
What’s Next
Jury selection is set for June 5, 2028, with the trial expected to last several months. Prosecutors say the case will rely on documentary evidence, including communications and financial trails linking Mohammed to the hijackers. Defense teams have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review the legality of the plea-deal revocation, a request that could shape the final phases of the proceedings.
