NEW YORK (AP) — Ken Fairben, who lost his only child in the 9/11 attacks, sought justice by traveling to the military courtroom at Guantánamo Bay naval base in Cuba. He attended hearings for accused Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and co-defendants in person and via closed-circuit video at a military facility near his Long Island home. Fairben has built relationships with other victims’ families during these trips and has observed the toll the lengthy legal process has taken on them.
Now, after nearly two decades of delays and emotional strain, Fairben and his wife are eagerly awaiting Khalid Sheikh Mohammed’s scheduled guilty plea for the 9/11 attacks. The uncertainty surrounding whether the plea will proceed adds to the complex mix of feelings among survivors and victims’ families, ranging from hope to frustration. Fairben, among others, sees a guilty plea and life sentence without parole as a potential step towards some form of closure, despite acknowledging that true closure may never come.
However, not all families are supportive of the plea agreements, which would eliminate the possibility of a trial and the valuable information it could uncover about the events leading up to the attacks. Some families, like Gordon Haberman, whose daughter perished in the World Trade Center, believe that a trial at Guantánamo could reveal crucial details, such as any potential involvement of the Saudi Arabian government in supporting the hijackers.
Brett Eagleson, whose father was a victim of 9/11, views the potential plea deals as a betrayal and a continuation of a series of disappointments in the pursuit of justice. The debate over the plea agreements reflects the ongoing struggle for closure and answers for the survivors and victims’ families of the tragic events of September 11, 2001.
The U.S. government is being called upon to present evidence to families affected by the events of 9/11 who are actively pursuing legal claims against Saudi Arabia. Expressing deep disappointment with recent developments, Eagleson, a plaintiff in the lawsuit and president of the advocacy group 9/11 Justice, lamented, “It’s a sad day for America. It’s a sad day for justice.” Eagleson’s personal connection to the tragedy runs deep, as he was a teenager when his father, Bruce, a Connecticut mall manager, lost his life in the World Trade Center attacks.
A potential trial before a military commission at Guantanamo Bay would undoubtedly face complexity due to the reported torture endured by the defendants during their time in CIA custody in the aftermath of their capture. The pretrial hearings have centered on the implications of this abuse on the overall integrity of the case.
For Eagleson, the fact that such issues could jeopardize the prospects of a fair trial is enraging. He emphasized that the suffering inflicted on the defendants in custody cannot be attributed to the families of the victims or the memory of the 3,000 lives lost in the attacks.
Elizabeth Miller’s determination to witness Khalid Sheikh Mohammed’s scheduled plea in person led her to embark on a challenging 5 1/2-hour journey through a looming winter storm to catch a military flight to Guantanamo. Despite previous experiences marked by dysfunction and disappointment during pretrial hearings at the military base, Miller remains hopeful about the significance of Mohammed admitting guilt on the record, both for herself and for the American people. Her father, Douglas Miller, a firefighter, perished in the World Trade Center on September 11.
Currently leading a group of 9/11 families in supporting the plea deal and opposing the imposition of the death penalty on the accused, Miller’s advocacy reflects a broader sentiment among those affected by the tragedy.
Robert Reeg, a retired firefighter who sustained serious injuries while responding to the 9/11 attacks, has actively engaged with the legal proceedings over the years. Expressing frustration with the slow pace of the case, Reeg finds the potential plea deals tantamount to surrender, a notion that he believes undermines America’s strength in the eyes of its enemies.
Despite his deep involvement in seeking justice, Reeg acknowledges the toll that the prolonged legal process has taken on him personally. Balancing his continued efforts towards closure with the need to move forward, Reeg reflects, “At a certain point in time, you just have to be resigned. All you can do is give your best effort, and I did. And I can live with that.”
Contributions to this report were made by Associate Press writer Ellen Knickmeyer in Washington.
