Alleged 9/11 Mastermind to Be Tried by Military Commission
In an about face, the U.S. Justice Department has announced that accused Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed will be tried by a military tribunal rather than civilian courts.
Mohammed will be tried at Guantanamo along with four alleged co-conspirators, according to the New York Times and ABC News. The Obama administration had previously planned to try Mohammed in New York City.
The decision comes after Congress refused to appropriate funds for an expensive civilian trial or to house Guantanamo suspects within the United States. The decision to try Mohammed before a military tribunal is a setback for President Obama, who had announced after he took office that he would close Guantanamo Bay by January 2010, the Wall Street Journal (sub. req.) reports.
A formal announcement of the decision is expected later today.
Prior coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Five 9/11 Suspects Being Held at Gitmo to Be Tried in New York”
