Trial Date Set for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and Co-Conspirators

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, accused of orchestrating the September 11 terror attacks, along with three alleged co-conspirators, is scheduled to stand trial in June 2028. This trial comes after more than two decades of delays and complications.

The military judge established June 5, 2028, for the trial while setting deadlines for related proceedings. The detention of Mohammed and his alleged accomplices at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, has frustrated the families of those who perished in the attacks. Michael Lebowitz, former Guantanamo military commissions prosecutor, states the issue is the system, not the evidence against the suspects.

“It’s the system and how it evolved and was created. Gitmo is an adequate, albeit expensive, option for detaining suspected war criminals,” Lebowitz told Fox News Digital.

The process has required involved parties to travel to Washington, D.C., for hearings, complicating proceedings further.

Mohammed, along with Walid bin Attash, Mustafa al-Hawsawi, and Ammar al-Baluchi, has seen proceedings delayed by legal disputes, such as failed plea deals. The military commission has addressed numerous disputes over evidence ahead of the trial.

Lebowitz noted that more than ten judges have presided over the case, forcing lawyers to repeatedly address mundane issues. He likened the system to a ‘candy store’ for defense lawyers, limiting judges’ control over proceedings.

Prosecutors must decide whether to pursue the death penalty. Even if they are sentenced to death, it is unlikely to be enforced.

9/11 families still seek accountability from Saudi Arabia for alleged support to hijackers after arriving in the United States. Some families favored a plea deal in 2024, wherein Mohammed and others would accept life sentences, but others opposed it. Due to criticism, the Biden administration rescinded the deal, increasing legal challenges.

The article reflects contributions from Brittany Miller of Fox News Digital.