Supreme Court turns away appeal from alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed

October 19, 2026 / 10:01 AM EDT / CBS News

Washington — The Supreme Court on Monday rebuffed a bid from accused Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two alleged accomplices to revive plea agreements that they reached with military prosecutors before being revoked by the Biden administration.

In an unsigned order, the high court turned away the appeals from Mohammed, Mustafa al Hawsawi and Walid bin 'Atash of a lower court decision that prevented a military judge from enforcing pretrial agreements they reached with military prosecutors in 2024, which were withdrawn by then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

In rejecting their case, the government's withdrawal of the plea deals remains in place. Justice Brett Kavanaugh did not participate in the court's consideration of the appeal.

Mohammed, Hawsawi and bin 'Atash, were captured in 2003 and charged before a military commission with several crimes for their alleged roles in crafting and perpetrating the Sept. 11 attacks, five of which carry the death penalty.

But their cases have been mired in lengthy legal delays over whether evidence extracted during their interrogations could be used in court. The defendants were held at secret CIA prisons, where they were subjected to "enhanced interrogation techniques,"…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/entertainment/