House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) praised Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s decision Friday to reverse plea agreements announced for three prisoners accused of helping plan the 9/11 terrorist attack. September.
“The Biden-Harris administration is correct to reverse course after receiving letters of @GOPoversight It is @HASCRepublicanos launching investigations into this terrible plea deal,” Johnson posted in X.
The Pentagon faced a wave of criticism from the right after announcing the plea deal, which would have lifted the death penalty for prisoners in exchange for a guilty plea.
Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), chairman of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, announced that the committee was investigating the plea deal Friday morning, before Austin’s announcement.
In a letter to President Biden, Comer included a statement from Kathy Vigiano, the wife of an NYPD officer who died on 9/11.
“I am angry and disappointed that the enemy combatants who killed thousands of Americans in our country are now able to exploit the US judicial system to their advantage, receiving support from American taxpayers for shelter, food and health care for the rest of the Your lives”. his statement was read.
Johnson suggested support for a harsh sentence in his post.
“Now deliver long-awaited justice to the 9/11 families,” he added.
By revoking the pre-trial decision signed by retired Brig. General Susan K. Escallier, Secretary of Defense, took direct responsibility for the case and canceled the agreement. The action effectively returned him to a death penalty case.
“Congress should not have taken action to remind them that we did not negotiate with the 9/11 terrorists,” reports the Republican Party Oversight Committee posted for X Saturday morning.
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