Trump's Egypt Connection? (with Joyce Vance)
Digest
This podcast episode delves into the politically charged legal news of the week, focusing on the revoked plea deal for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks. The hosts, Pete and Joyce, discuss the history of the case, the decision to pursue justice in a military tribunal, and the challenges faced in the process. They analyze the plea deal's unusual features, including the restorative justice component and the lack of communication with the Secretary of Defense and the White House. The hosts question the effectiveness of restorative justice and its potential to platform KSM, highlighting the challenges of achieving justice for the victims after 23 years. They conclude that the 9/11 case should have been handled in federal court, emphasizing the importance of timely justice and discussing the impact of delays on the defendants and the victims. The episode also briefly touches on other political news of the week, including Kamala Harris's running mate selection.
Outlines
The 9/11 Plea Deal Revoked and Its Implications
This episode examines the revoked plea deal for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks, discussing the complexities of the case, the challenges of restorative justice, and the impact on the victims' families. The hosts analyze the plea deal's unusual features, including the restorative justice component and the lack of communication with the Secretary of Defense and the White House. They question the effectiveness of restorative justice and its potential to platform KSM, highlighting the challenges of achieving justice for the victims after 23 years. They conclude that the 9/11 case should have been handled in federal court, emphasizing the importance of timely justice and discussing the impact of delays on the defendants and the victims.
Political and Legal News
This segment briefly discusses the political news of the week, including Kamala Harris's running mate selection and its potential impact. The hosts also invite listeners to share their favorite hot dish recipes.
Keywords
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, also known as KSM, is the alleged mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks. He was captured in 2003 and has been held at Guantanamo Bay since then.
Guantanamo Bay
Guantanamo Bay is a United States naval base located in Cuba. It has been used as a detention facility for suspected terrorists since 2002.
Military Tribunal
A military tribunal is a court that is convened by the military to try military personnel or civilians for offenses against military law.
Restorative Justice
Restorative justice is a system of criminal justice that focuses on repairing the harm caused by crime. It involves bringing together victims, offenders, and community members to address the needs of all parties involved.
Plea Deal
A plea deal is an agreement between a prosecutor and a defendant in which the defendant pleads guilty to a lesser charge or to a lesser number of charges in exchange for a more lenient sentence.
Secretary of Defense
The Secretary of Defense is the head of the United States Department of Defense. They are responsible for overseeing the military and providing advice to the President on national security matters.
9/11 Attacks
The 9/11 attacks were a series of four coordinated terrorist attacks by the Islamic terrorist group al-Qaeda against the United States on the morning of September 11, 2001.
Victims' Families
The victims' families are the individuals who lost loved ones in the 9/11 attacks. They have been advocating for justice and accountability for the perpetrators.
Q&A
Why was the decision made to pursue justice for the 9/11 defendants in a military tribunal instead of a federal court?
The decision to pursue justice in a military tribunal was made for a variety of reasons, including concerns about the admissibility of evidence obtained through enhanced interrogation techniques and the desire to avoid a lengthy and complex trial in a federal court.
What are the challenges associated with trying 9/11 defendants in a military tribunal?
Military tribunals are less tested than federal courts, and the laws governing them are constantly evolving. This can lead to delays, appeals, and uncertainty about the process.
What is restorative justice, and how was it intended to be implemented in the 9/11 plea deal?
Restorative justice is a system of criminal justice that focuses on repairing the harm caused by crime. In the 9/11 plea deal, it was intended to allow victims' families to ask questions of the defendants about their roles in the attacks.
Why did the Secretary of Defense revoke the plea deal?
The Secretary of Defense revoked the plea deal because he was not informed about it beforehand and was not satisfied with its terms, particularly the restorative justice component.
What are the implications of the revoked plea deal for the victims' families?
The revoked plea deal means that the victims' families will have to continue to wait for justice, and they may never see the defendants brought to trial. It also raises questions about the effectiveness of the military tribunal system.
Show Notes
In an excerpt from a new episode of CAFE Insider, Preet Bharara and Joyce Vance discuss Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s decision to revoke a plea deal that would have allowed Khalid Shaikh Mohammad, the man accused of plotting al-Qaeda's 9/11 attack, to avoid the death penalty.
In the full podcast, exclusively for members of CAFE Insider, Preet and Joyce are joined by Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Carol Leonnig, who, along with her team at the Washington Post, recently uncovered a secret criminal investigation into whether former President Donald Trump received money from the Egyptian government in violation of campaign finance laws. Leonnig, author of the book, Zero Fail: The Rise and Fall of the Secret Service, also speaks about the Secret Service failures that led to the Trump assassination attempt.
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