The U.S. Court of Military Commission Review's unanimous decision is a significant rebuke to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, affirming that plea deals for 9/11 suspects can't be rescinded post-factum.
The appeals court concluded that while Secretary Austin could limit future deals, he had no authority to invalidate existing agreements between the defendants and the court.
With the acknowledgment of guilt from the accused in the 9/11 attacks, the court indicated that any challenge to the plea deals was undermined, complicating prosecution efforts.
Austin's intervention was initially justified by a desire for accountability for 9/11 victims, but the court's ruling emphasizes the legal framework around military commissions.
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