On Friday Defense Secretary Loyd Austin overrode a controversial plea deal struck with the mastermind behind the 9/11 terror attacks.
The deal was announced days earlier and was immediately met with intense backlash as it would have removed the death penalty for three terrorists in exchange for them pleading guilty to the murder of nearly 3,000 Americans. In a memo on Friday, Austin announced he was taking over the case and canceling the deal immediately.
Republican lawmakers praised the move. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said the Biden administration was “correct to reverse course.” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) released a joint statement with Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) saying, “We are glad that Secretary Austin came to his senses,” while also saying they will “continue to watch this situation closely.”
This comes after the House Oversight Committee launched an investigation surrounding the White House’s role in the agreement.