Military Judge Throws Out Khalid Sheikh Mohammed Confession

A military judge on Friday formally threw out a confession made by Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind behind the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks. Lt. Col. Michael Schrama delivered this ruling after determining that statements Mohammed gave to investigators in 2007 were never given voluntarily. The New York Post reported these details shortly after the decision came down.

This move could seriously complicate what has already become a decades-long wait for the suspected plotter to stand trial. Sources familiar with the contents told the newspaper that Schrama had effectively axed Mohammed's confessions from the case entirely. The ruling was not initially made public, but insiders confirmed the scope of the judge's action immediately.

Earlier this week, just days before the 25th anniversary of the deadly attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people, Schrama set a trial date for June 2028 for Mohammed and three co-defendants. Those defendants include Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarak bin 'Atash, Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawsawi, and Ali Abdul Aziz Ali. Prosecutors had requested to open the trial in January 2027 instead, but Schrama rejected that idea. He argued such a start would leave too little time for the resolution of pretrial evidentiary and compliance motions.

Fox News Digital has reached out to military prosecutors involved in this complex case. The advocacy group 9/11 Families United declined to comment on Friday's ruling when contacted by Fox News Digital. Schrama's latest decision threatens to further delay the proceedings, which have been plagued by constant postponements and failed efforts to secure plea agreements.

Back in 2024, Mohammed, Walid bin Attash, and Mustafa al-Hawsawi agreed to admit their roles in the terror attacks. That agreement came with life sentences and avoidance of the death penalty as conditions. They are all being held at a U.S. military base at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba right now. Many families of victims criticized this plea deal heavily. Consequently, the Biden administration withdrew the agreement, resulting in more litigation than anyone expected.

The original stipulation also required that the men answer any questions the families of the victims have about the attacks. That promise was part of the withdrawn deal. Now, with confessions thrown out and dates pushed back, the path forward remains uncertain for everyone involved in this long-running legal saga.