Ken Fairben, the father of a victim of the 9/11 attacks, has spent years seeking justice for his loss. He has traveled to the Guantánamo Bay naval base in Cuba multiple times to attend hearings for the accused mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. Alongside other victims’ families, Fairben has witnessed the emotional toll of the long legal process, which has been marked by delays and uncertainties.
Now, after nearly two decades, Fairben and his wife are awaiting a potential guilty plea from Mohammed in relation to the attacks. However, there is uncertainty surrounding whether the plea will actually occur, as the federal government has disavowed previous negotiations and is seeking to block the deals. Fairben believes that a guilty plea and life sentence without parole could provide some sense of resolution, though he acknowledges that there will never truly be closure for those who lost loved ones on 9/11.
The possibility of the case coming to a close elicits a mix of emotions among survivors and victims’ relatives, ranging from hope to anger. Some families are critical of the potential plea agreements, as they fear that crucial information about the attacks may remain undisclosed. There is a desire for more transparency, especially regarding the involvement of the Saudi Arabian government, which has been a subject of investigation and speculation.
Despite the complexities and challenges of the legal proceedings, individuals like Brett Eagleson, who lost his father on 9/11, view the plea deals as a disappointment and a failure to fully address the questions and concerns surrounding the attacks. The pursuit of justice and accountability continues for many who were impacted by the tragic events of September 11, 2001.
The U.S. government is under pressure to present evidence to families affected by the 9/11 attacks who are pursuing legal claims against Saudi entities. “It’s a somber day for America. It’s a somber day for justice,” remarked Eagleson, a plaintiff in the lawsuit and president of a group known as 9/11 Justice, dedicated to advocating for victims and survivors. Eagleson’s father, Bruce, a mall manager from Connecticut, lost his life in the World Trade Center during the tragic events.
Any potential trial that may take place before a military commission at Guantanamo could face complications due to allegations of torture inflicted upon the defendants while in CIA custody in the initial years following their capture. The pretrial proceedings have primarily centered on how this alleged abuse may compromise the integrity of the case as a whole.
Eagleson expressed frustration at how these issues have cast doubts on the feasibility of a fair trial. He emphasized that the treatment of the defendants in custody is not the fault of his family or the families of the 3,000 deceased Americans.
Elizabeth Miller undertook a 5 1/2-hour journey through a looming winter storm to board a military flight to Guantanamo, hoping to witness Mohammed’s anticipated plea in person. Despite having attended previous hearings at the isolated military base, she anticipated dysfunction and disappointment from the military commission but remained eager for this particular trip.
“For me, having KSM [Khalid Sheikh Mohammed] admit guilt on record is crucial. I believe it holds significance for the American people,” expressed Miller, whose father, Douglas Miller, a firefighter, perished in the World Trade Center attacks. Miller now leads a coalition of 9/11 families in support of plea deals and in opposition to the death penalty for the accused.
Robert Reeg, a retired firefighter who sustained severe injuries while responding to the 9/11 events, has made multiple trips to Guantanamo over the years to observe pretrial hearings and has engaged with lawmakers in Washington regarding the sluggish progress of the case. He perceives the potential plea agreements as a form of capitulation. “These adversaries see us as feeble and indecisive, and this only confirms that,” he remarked.
However, should the proceedings move forward on Friday, Reeg conveyed that he would not be fixated on every development emerging from Guantanamo. His primary focus would be caring for his young granddaughter, emphasizing, “I’ve endured enough pain from this ordeal.”
“There comes a point where you must accept the situation,” he reflected. “All one can do is give their utmost effort, which I have done. And I can find solace in that.”
___Contributions to this report were made by Associated Press writer Ellen Knickmeyer in Washington.
