Military Judge Tosses Out 9/11 Mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed's Confession as Not Voluntary
A military judge has ruled that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of the September 11 attacks, did not provide his 2007 confession to the FBI voluntarily. Lt. Col. Michael Schrama suppressed the statements because the accused was subjected to intense waterboarding and interrogation by the CIA prior to the FBI's involvement. The judge found that the previous treatment instilled a fear in Mohammed that he would be mistreated if he failed to comply, and noted that he was not given a Miranda warning during the FBI sessions. This ruling complicates the prosecution's case, as the confession was considered the centerpiece of the trial. The administration's efforts to prosecute Mohammed have been delayed for years by disputes over evidence and previous plea deals that were eventually revoked. The trial for Mohammed and three co-defendants is now scheduled to begin in June 2028. Rear Adm. Aaron C. Rugh, the lead prosecutor, stated the government will decide whether to appeal the ruling in the near future.