Judge Suppresses Key FBI Confession of Alleged 9/11 Mastermind

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Washington: A military judge has thrown out confessions given to the FBI by alleged September 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, dealing a major blow to federal prosecutors attempting to try the accused terrorist in Guantanamo Bay.

Military Judge Lt. Col. Michael Schrama ruled on Friday that statements Mohammed provided to FBI agents during a four-day interrogation in January 2007 were not given voluntarily. Schrama concluded that the questioning was tainted by an ‘unbroken continuation’ of severe psychological conditioning and physical coercion stemming from years of CIA custody, during which Mohammed was subjected to waterboarding, sleep deprivation, and other enhanced interrogation techniques. 

The court also noted that agents failed to advise Mohammed of his right to remain silent or provide access to legal counsel.

The decision suppresses what prosecutors previously characterized as the qualitative core of their case, creating further uncertainty for a long-delayed proceeding that began with Mohammed's 2012 arraignment. 

The ruling comes just days after Schrama set a June 2028 trial date for Mohammed and three co-defendants, following the revocation of a 2024 plea deal that would have spared them capital punishment. Chief prosecutor Rear Adm. Aaron C. Rugh stated that the government is currently evaluating whether to appeal the decision.

Pic Credit: AFP