Supreme Court Declines to Revive 9/11 Defendants' Plea Deals, Leaving Death Penalty Possible

The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a request by Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the accused mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, and two co-defendants to revive plea agreements that would have spared them the death penalty. The deals, reached in 2024, would have meant guilty pleas and sentences of life in prison. The denial keeps the death penalty possible for the three men as they move toward a military trial, which is scheduled for June 2028.

Left-leaning coverage, represented by The New York Times, leads with the justices' rejection and says it clears the way for a potential death penalty trial. Alternative outlets AP and Axios report the same decision; AP describes what the agreement would have provided, while Axios adds the June 2028 trial date and notes that the government hopes to proceed. Right-leaning outlets agree on the outcome but use more charged descriptions. The New York Post calls the deal controversial and Mohammed notorious, and The Daily Signal says he will again face the death penalty, framing the ruling as a failed attempt to dodge it. All sides agree on the ruling and what it means for the defendants; they differ mainly in tone and in which details they emphasize.