Crime & Justice
CROSS-SPECTRUMBROAD COVERAGE
Military judge excludes Khalid Sheikh Mohammed’s 2007 confession in upcoming 9/11 trial
Lt. Col. Michael Schrama ruled that the 2007 statements Khalid Sheikh Mohammed gave to FBI agents must be suppressed because they were not made voluntarily, citing CIA coercion and the lack of Miranda warnings. The ruling comes as the military commission has set the trial to begin on June 5, 2028. The Justice Department has asked the Supreme Court to deny the defendants’ request to reinstate plea agreements that would have removed the death penalty. Prosecutors said they may appeal the suppression decision.
How this was covered
- Left-leaning outlets covered this 5h later
- Right-leaning coverage is the most divided on this story
Why it matters
The exclusion of the confession removes a key piece of evidence in the long‑delayed trial of the alleged mastermind of the September 11 attacks.
How this story developed
- Aug 26 Judge schedules 2028 trial for alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed
- Aug 27 Judge Schrama moved the trial start from January 2027 to June 2028.
- Aug 27 Military judge set trial to begin June 5, 2028 after appellate court dismissed a plea agreement.
- Aug 27 Justice Department filed a brief asking the Supreme Court to reject the defendants’ request to reinstate plea agreements that would have removed the death penalty.
- Aug 30 Judge Schrama ruled the 2007 FBI confession inadmissible.
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