Families Outraged After Judge Upholds Plea Deals for Accused 9/11 Plotters: ‘Horrific Travesty’
For the first time since the historic 9/11 attacks, the families of victims are left reeling after a judge upheld plea deals for several key accused plotters, sparking outrage and disbelief among those who lost loved ones in the tragedy.
U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein on Thursday accepted the guilty pleas of four of the 20 alleged co-conspirators who were charged with helping to plan and execute the 9/11 attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people on September 11, 2001.
The pleas have been met with widespread criticism from survivors and family members of those who perished in the attacks, who feel that the plea deals do not provide sufficient justice for the lives lost.
“It’s a horrific travesty,” said Mary Fetchet, co-founder of the 9/11 Families & Friends of Firefighters WTC, in a statement. “The judges’ decision sends the message that terrorism is not taken seriously in this country. It’s a slap in the face to all the victims and their families.”
The other families shared similar sentiments, saying that the plea deals do not acknowledge the gravity of the crimes committed and that it undermines the rule of law.
“This is a small step in a long and difficult journey towards justice, but it’s not the end,” said Terry Strawn, founder of United We Stand, a 9/11 survivor support group. “We will continue to fight for the justice that we deserve and to hold accountable those responsible for the tragic events of 9/11.”
The plea deals, which were reached in 2011, spared the accused of life imprisonment, with some facing as little as 25 years in prison. Prosecutors initially sought the death penalty for five of the accused, while the others could have faced life on the courthouse steps without parole.
The family members of the victims also argue that the plea deals do not hold the accused accountable for their actions and do not bring justice for the families who have suffered as a result of the attacks.
As the families prepare to face the uncertainty of the long and arduous journey ahead, many hope for a sense of closure and justice for their loved ones who were taken away from them in one of the most devastating attacks in U.S. history.
The 9/11 attacks, which targeted the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington D.C., left a lasting mark on the world, and the pursuit of justice for the victims and their families continues to this day.