JUST IN: Military Judge Throws Out Confessions of Fourth Defendant in 9/11 Case

A military judge has dismissed the confessions of Walid bin Attash, the fourth defendant in the 9/11 case, ruling that statements made to CIA agents were coerced. The judge found that federal agents failed to inform bin Attash that his prior coerced statements could not be used against him and noted the use of CIA-like interrogation techniques. This decision is a significant setback for the prosecution, which has previously defended these confessions as crucial evidence.

• A military judge dismissed confessions from Walid bin Attash, a defendant in the 9/11 case.
• The judge ruled that prior confessions to the CIA were coerced and inadmissible.
• The judge cited the failure of federal agents to inform bin Attash that his CIA statements could not be used against him.
• The use of interrogation techniques similar to those employed by the CIA was also noted.
• This decision is a blow to the government’s prosecution strategy and the ‘clean team’ theory.
• Confessions from other defendants, including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, have also been previously dismissed.
• Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is detained at Guantanamo Bay, with his trial scheduled for 2028.
• Previously, plea deals that would have spared some defendants the death penalty were made but later canceled.