News broke Wednesday night of the plea deal involving three 9/11 terrorist masterminds. What seems like a notable story was quickly swept under the rug by the evening and Thursday morning newscasts of ABC, NBC, and CBS as they refused to connect President Biden to the actions of his administration on the matter.
As the news broke of a plea deal between the masterminds of the 9/11 attacks and the Department of Defense, CBS’s Charie D’Agata on Evening News and CBS Mornings conveniently left out the Biden Administration:
The Pentagon just announced the three men, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Walid Bin ‘Attash, and Mustafa al Hawsawi, will plead guilty to some charges as early as next week as part of plea agreements in the military commissions process. They've been held at Gitmo for years with the U.S. accusing the Al Qaeda terror suspects of plotting the 9/11 attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people.
There has been great pushback from many Americans, but especially the families of those who were lost in the attacks. As NBC’s Andrea Mitchell noted on Today with no reference to Biden, “Ashley Bisman was just 16 when she lost her father, Jeff Goldflam, on 9/11. She says the suspected plea deal does not seem like justice…House Speaker Mike Johnson is denouncing the plea deal as a slap in the face to the 9/11 families.”
ABC was the only network to mention Biden, however, they failed to attach any blame to him with, White House correspondent Mary Bruce reporting, “The White House said the president played no role in this deal reached instead by military prosecutors. Biden directing his aides to consult with Pentagon lawyers about it.”
That makes little sense, as Bruce had previously recalled, “Last fall, president Biden rejecting a set of demands that inform the basis of plea negotiations.”
Any Republican president would have called to defend all aspects of his administration's actions, and this should be applicable for Biden as well. With one of the worst American tragedies attached to the issue as well, Biden should have played a bigger part in the discussion, and the anger of thousands of Americans should not be limited to two minute news segments quick to move past the story. Yet again, a disappointing show from the major broadcast networks.
The transcript is below, click “expand” to read:
CBS Evening News
7/31/2024
06:35:19 PM EST(...)
NORAH O`DONNELL: Now to some breaking news, the Department of Defense revealing tonight that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the man accused of plotting the September 11 attacks, has agreed to a plea deal.
CBS`s Charlie D'Agata is at the Pentagon and has new details -- Charlie.
CHARLIE D'AGATA: Yeah, Norah, this was just released moments ago from the Department of Defense. It reads in part, “9/11 defendants Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two other 9/11 dependants - - defendant's excuse me, have reached pretrial agreement that will, as reported by The New York Times allow them to escape the death penalty. In exchange, the alleged mastermind of the September 11 attacks, which killed nearly 3,000 people, would plead guilty and serve a sentence of life in prison. Now, any plea deal to spare him and his two accomplices from that death penalty is likely to enrage the families of those Americans who died on 9/11. The case against these alleged terrorists has dragged on for more than a decade. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, a U.S.-educated engineer, is accused of coming up with the idea of flying hijacked airplanes into buildings. He and his co-defendants have been in custody for more than 21 years, most of that at Guantanamo Bay. Norah.
NORAH O`DONNELL: Charlie D'Agata, still so many questions. Thank you.
(...)
CBS Mornings
8/1/2024
07:09:36 AM EST
(...)KRISTINE JOHNSON: Other headlines here, the Defense Department says the man accused of plotting the September 11th attacks and the two accomplices have reached a plea deal. It is a controversial twist in this long running case, as Charlie D'Agata reports now from the Pentagon. Charlie, good morning.
CHARLIE D'AGATA: Good morning to you. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, also known as KSM, and two other defendants have reached a pretrial agreement as we understand it that will, according to multiple sources, allow them to escape the death penalty. In exchange, they would plead guilty for their roles in planning and supporting the September 11th attacks which killed nearly 3,000 people. KSM, a US-educated engineer is accused of plotting the idea of flying hijacked planes into buildings. They have been in custody, locked up for 21 years, mostly, at Guantanamo Bay. Now, there have been years of legal delays and wrangling due to questions over evidence gathered, while the men were subjected to, quote “enhanced interrogation techniques” or torture.” Any deal to spare them the death penalty will enrage the families of 9/11 victims. They`re expected to enter those pleas as early as next week. Nate.
NATE BURLESON: Charlie, thank you.
(...)
NBC Nightly News
7/31/2024
7:07:21 p.m. EasternLESTER HOLT: Just in tonight, word that the accused mastermind of the 9/11 terrorist attack, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two accomplices, have reached plea agreements. Courtney Kube is tracking this at the Pentagon. Courtney, what more do we know?
COURTNEY KUBE: Well, Lester, the Pentagon just announced the three men, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Walid Bin Attash, and Mustafa al-Hawsawi will plead guilty to some charges as early as next week as part of plea agreements in the military commissions process.
They've been held at Gitmo for years with the U.S. accusing the Al Qaeda terror suspects of plotting the 9/11 attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people.
Now, the details of the plea agreements are still unknown, but they are expected to plead guilty to lesser charges that could spare them the death penalty. Sentencing may not come for months, but they'll likely appear at a hearing in Guantanamo in the coming days, Lester.
HOLT: Courtney Kube tonight, thank you.
(...)
NBC’s Today
8/1/2024
07:08:12 AM ESTSAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Also this morning, we are learning more about the plea agreements that will allow the mastermind of the 9/11 terror attacks, and two of his accomplices, to avoid the death penalty. It's a decision that is not sitting well with some of the families of the victims. NBC's chief foreign affairs correspondent Andrea Mitchell with the details this morning. Andrea, good morning.
ANDREA MITCHELL: Good morning, Savannah. This is a major development. It comes almost two decades after the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Pentagon officials say the mastermind, Khalid Sheikh Mohammad, and two other top Al Qaeda operatives, will plead guilty to charges as early as next week at the U.S. Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay. It comes 16 years after they were first charged in the worst terror attack in U.S. history.
[Cuts to video]
MITCHELL: Today, the self-confessed mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, and two accomplices, are expected to enter a plea deal with the U.S. military. According to officials, the three defendants are set to plead guilty to some unspecified charges, as early as next week at Guantanamo Bay.
The New York Times sending a letter from prosecutors to 9/11 families, not independently verified by NBC News, reports the men have agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy and murder charges, in exchange for a life sentence, avoiding a death penalty trial at Guantanamo, where they were first charged by the military in 2008.
Once the number three man in Al Qaeda, Khalid Sheikh Mohammad, known as “KSM,” was captured by U.S. forces in Pakistan in 2003. Four years later he testified he was responsible “for the 9/11 operation from A to Z,” as well as the first attack on the World Trade Center in 1993.
According to a 2014 Senate Intelligence Committee report, the CIA waterboarded Mohammad 183 times, a now-outlawed technique widely considered torture. Also entering the plea agreement, KSM's accomplice, Mustafa Ahmed al-Hawsawi. The FBI says he was the main money man, sending credit cards and tens of thousands of dollars to the hijackers.
The third defendant, Walid bin Attash, was a former body guard for Osama bin Laden, and is suspected by the FBI of planning the attack on the USS Cole in 2000, that killed 17 American sailors.
Ashley Bisman was just 16 when she lost her father, Jeff Goldflam, on 9/11. She says the suspected plea deal does not seem like justice.
ASHLEY BISMAN: The saying with 9/11 is, "Never forget," and, unfortunately, the victims were forgotten today.
[Cuts back to live]
MITCHELL: House Speaker Mike Johnson is denouncing the plea deal as a slap in the face to the 9/11 families. Savannah?
GUTHRIE: Alright. Andrea Mitchell in Washington, thank you.
(...)
ABC’s World News Tonight with David Muir
7/31/2024
06:37:26 PM ESTDAVID MUIR: We turn now to the breaking headline. The accused mastermind of the 9/11 terror attack and two co-defendants have reached a plea deal. Authorities say they will now plead guilty to multiple charges, including the murder of 2,976 people, reportedly to be spared the death penalty. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind, and the two alleged co-conspirators, have been held at Guantanamo Bay for years now. ABC's chief White House correspondent Mary Bruce with the details, just now coming in.
MARY BRUCE: Tonight, the accused mastermind of the 9/11 terror attacks, and two other defendants, striking plea deals with prosecutors. The New York Times reporting they struck that deal to avoid the death penalty. In addition to Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Walid bin Attash and Mustafa al-Hawsawi have agreed to plead guilty.
The Times reporting war court prosecutors sent a letter to family members of the victims of the attacks, saying “in exchange for the removal of the death penalty as a possible punishment, these three accused have agreed to plead guilty to all of the charged offenses, including the murder of the 2,976 people listed in the charge sheet.”
All three are currently being held in Guantanamo Bay, where they are expected to remain for the rest of their lives. The Pentagon has not released details of the deal publicly, but the trials of the 9/11 conspirators has been delayed for years. Last September, President Biden rejected a set of demands that had formed the basis of the plea negotiations. Some of the victims' families had expressed outrage when word came, last year, that a plea deal was in the works.
[Cuts back to live]
Now, tonight, I am told that the president and the White House played no role in this process. The president has now directed his team to consult, where appropriate, with officials and lawyers at the Department of Defense on this matter, David.
MUIR: Mary Bruce live at the White House with the breaking news. Mary, thank you.
(...)
ABC Good Morning America
8/1/2024
7:07:57 AM EST(...)
REBECCA JARVIS: We turn to the plea deal reached with three men who plotted the 9/11 attacks including the accused mastermind, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. Our chief White House correspondent Mary Bruce has the details. Good morning, Mary.
MARY BRUCE: Good morning, Rebecca. Well, this morning the man accused of plotting the 9/11 attacks and two of his accomplices will now avoid the death penalty, pleading guilty in exchange for life sentences instead. As you can imagine, this news is being met with mixed emotions by the families of the victims. But prosecutors say this deal was the best way to bring finality and justice to the case.
[Cuts to video]
This morning the alleged mastermind of the 9/11 attacks and two of his accomplices have agreed to plead guilty in exchange for life sentences, avoiding the death penalty. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, as well as Walid Bin Attash and Mustafa al-Hawsawi, reaching a deal with military prosecutors to plead guilty to conspiracy and murder charges. A letter from prosecutors to family members of the victims of the attack saying, "In exchange for the removal of the death penalty as a possible punishment, these three accused have agreed to plead guilty to all of the charged offenses including the murder of the 2,976 people listed in the charge sheet.”
Prosecutors writing “that the news will understandably and appropriately elicit intense emotions and be met with mixed reactions amongst the thousands of family members who lost loved ones.” But saying “it is our collective reasoned and good faith judgment that this resolution is the best path to finality and justice in this case.” But some families of the victims already outraged.
DAN D’ALLARA: The government is failing us.
BRUCE: Dan D’Allara lost his twin brother John in the world trade center. Like many others, he wanted the defendants to face trial and the death penalty.
DELAURA: To take it off the table now, a lot of people are outraged.
BRUCE: Others like Patrick White, whose cousin Lewis Knacky was a passenger on United 93. Said this was the result they were hoping for. White telling ABC News, “I’ve made my peace with it.”
The deal approved by the top military official overseeing the war court at Guantanamo Bay comes after years of negotiations. The authorities allege that Mohammed came up with the idea to use planes as weapons, helping Osama Bin Laden plan the hijackings, trainings, and targets. Captured in 2003, Mohammed was subjected to 183 rounds of water boarding and other forms of torture while in CIA custody before arriving at Guantanamo in 2006. Those torture tactics causing more than a decade of delays in his military trial, with proceedings focused on whether the torture contaminated the evidence. Last fall, President Biden rejecting a set of demands that inform the basis of plea negotiations. Now, the White House said the president played no role in this deal reached instead by military prosecutors. Biden directing his aides to consult with Pentagon lawyers about it.
[Cuts to live]
Now, Mohammed and the other two men have agreed as part of this deal to answer questions from the victims' families regarding their roles and reasons behind their involvement in the September 11th attacks. The three men could submit their pleas in open court as early as next week. Robin?
ROBIN ROBRTS: All right, Mary appreciate your reporting on this.
(...)
