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Supreme Court Rejects Plea Deals, Clears Way for 2028 Trial

By Drooid · Oct 19, 2026, 4:33 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected the appeal to reinstate plea deals for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Mustafa al-Hawsawi and Walid bin Attash.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin revoked the plea agreements, and the D.C. Circuit affirmed his authority to do so.
A military judge had ruled the revocation unlawful, prompting the defendants’ appeal to the Supreme Court.
The ruling clears the way for a 2028 military-commission trial that could impose the death penalty.

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Story summary

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected the appeal to reinstate plea deals for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Mustafa al-Hawsawi and Walid bin Attash.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin revoked the plea agreements, and the D.C. Circuit affirmed his authority to do so.
A military judge had ruled the revocation unlawful, prompting the defendants’ appeal to the Supreme Court.
The ruling clears the way for a 2028 military-commission trial that could impose the death penalty.