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Bill would prevent plea deals for Khalid Sheikh Mohammad and 9/11 co-conspirators, and guarantees that the death penalty remains on table.

Today, Representatives Mike Lawler (NY-17), Anthony D'Esposito (NY-04), and Elise Stefanik (NY-21) announced the introduction of the Justice for 9/11 Act, which would prevent plea deals for Khalid Sheikh Mohammad and his fellow 9/11 co-conspirators in the wake of a revoked plea deal by the Biden-Harris Administration. The legislation would also guarantee that the death penalty remains on the table at any future trial.

Background on the Justice for 9/11 Act:

• A formerly existing pretrial agreement between the 9/11 planners and the government would have removed the possibility of the death penalty as punishment.
• In 2008, Khalid Shaikh Mohammad was charged with multiple crimes for his role, including conspiracy, murder in violation of the law of war, attacking civilians, and terrorism and material support of terrorism.
• The Justice for 9/11 Act would prevent the Biden-Harris administration from offering plea deals to the 9/11 terrorists by requiring a trial and ensuring the death penalty remains an option in sentencing.
• The bill would also require the terrorists to be kept at Guantanamo Bay in solitary confinement and prohibit them from being extradited to another country.

"September 11th is a date that will forever be seared in our national memory, especially for New Yorkers," said Rep. Mike Lawler (NY-17). "The idea that the Biden-Harris Administration would offer a plea deal without the death penalty to the very people who planned the attacks that took the lives of almost 3,000 is a betrayal of our cops, firefighters, and 9/11 victims and their families."

"The Justice for 9/11 Act will ensure that no future plea deal will be offered to these terrorists by requiring a trial and ensuring the death penalty remains on the table," concluded Rep. Mike Lawler (NY-17). "Anything less is a disservice to all those who made the ultimate sacrifice on that day and in the months and years since."

“A cornerstone of America’s national ethos is our commitment to fighting terrorists, not negotiating with them. The fact that federal authorities were willing to enter into a plea deal with the masterminds of the 9/11 terror attack is beyond shameful, and calls into serious question the judgement of certain Biden-Harris Administration officials responsible for this glaring miscarriage of justice," stated Rep. D'Esposito (NY-04). "Congress must act now and pass the 9/11 Justice Act to ensure the families of the thousands of innocent victims murdered on September 11th see justice served, and these disgusting terrorists are unable to dodge punishment for their heinous crimes."

“In an effort to prevent the Biden-Harris Administration from offering another sickening plea deal to the al-Qaeda terrorists behind the horrific terrorist attacks of 9/11, I am proud to co-lead the introduction of the Justice for 9/11 Act to ensure these terrorists receive the harshest punishment for their roles in the deadliest terrorist attack in American history,” said Rep. Elise Stefanik (NY-21). “On behalf of the nearly 3,000 Americans killed on 9/11 and thousands of first responders who died from 9/11 health related illnesses, our service members, including 10th Mountain Division Soldiers, who gave their lives to eliminate terrorists, I will do everything in my power to make sure these terrorists are tried to the fullest extent of the law for their heinous crimes against America. We have not forgotten.”

Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) introduced this legislation in the United States Senate.

Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of the 118th Congress and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties.