Guantanamo
Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp (GITMO) was established under President Bush’s “The War on Terror “which followed the September 11th attacks.
Key aspects of the Guantanamo Bay 9/11 connection:
- Establishment: Guantanamo Bay was established in January 2002, four months after the attacks, to hold terror suspects and "illegal enemy combatants."
- Detainees: Individuals charged in connection with the 9/11 attacks have been held at Guantanamo Bay, including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (KSM) and four other alleged co-conspirators.
- Legal Proceedings: The cases of the 9/11 defendants have been held in military tribunals at Guantanamo Bay.
- Challenges to the trials: The trials have faced numerous delays and legal challenges, including debates over the admissibility of evidence obtained through "enhanced interrogation techniques" and questions regarding the competency of some defendants to stand trial.
- Plea Deals: In 2024, plea agreements were reached with KSM and two co-defendants, which would remove the possibility of the death penalty.
- Appeals and Delays: However, these plea deals have been challenged, including an appeal by former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. An appeals court has since weighed in on the matter, further complicating the process.
- Ongoing Status: As of early 2025, pre-trial proceedings in the case were announced to be scheduled for September and October 2025.
- Victim Family Members: Relatives of 9/11 victims have expressed mixed feelings about the legal proceedings, with some desiring closure through plea deals and others wanting a full trial and potentially the death penalty for the accused.