House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) announced this week that the Committee has initiated an investigation into the Biden-Harris White House regarding the plea deal offered to the terrorists behind the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.
The administration faced significant backlash after news broke of the plea deal, which spared the terrorists the death penalty in exchange for guilty pleas for the attacks that resulted in the deaths of 2,976 people. Following the public outcry, the administration removed retired Brig. Gen. Susan K. Escallier, who proposed the deal, from the case and rescinded the offer.
The plea agreements would have resulted in life sentences for 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarak Bin ‘Attash, and Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawsawi.
Comer stated that the Committee is investigating the administration’s involvement in negotiating and/or approving the deal.
“The pre-trial agreements followed 27 months of negotiations and were approved by senior Pentagon officials,” Comer said. “This timeline falls entirely within your Administration.”
While the administration has claimed no involvement in the process, Comer found this assertion “far from believable or appropriate.”
“In addition to questions about the White House’s role in this decision, the Committee is also concerned about the complete lack of transparency regarding the deal,” Comer said. “The specific terms of the pre-trial agreements remain undisclosed to the public and the families of the victims. By allowing these terrorists to avoid the death penalty, you signal to our enemies that the United States is reluctant to pursue full justice against those who attack our nation.”
The Committee has requested the administration to produce several documents within the next two weeks, including complete and unredacted copies of the pre-trial agreements; all communications between the White House and the Pentagon related to the agreements or mentioning the terrorists involved; all documents prepared for White House officials about the three terrorists; and all communications between the White House and the Department of Justice related to the agreements or any of the terrorists.
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