Obama will have to sign 9/11 suspect Sheikh’s death warrant if military court says so
April 6th, 2011 - 5:11 pm ICT by ANI
Washington, Apr. 6 (ANI): US President Barack Obama will have to personally sign the death warrant for 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed if the military tribunal he’s going to face sentences him to the ultimate penalty.
Mohammed would most likely have to face the death penalty in a civilian proceeding — an avenue the Obama administration rejected yesterday after confronting withering pressure from lawmakers and families of September 11 victims.
According to the New York Post, the rules governing special military commissions, updated by a 2009 law, are entirely different.
The lives of the defendants would be in the hands of a jury of military officers in Guantanamo Bay who would follow special rules for evidence and witnesses.
Among the rules buried in a 2010 procedural manual is a provision that gives Obama ultimate authority over the man prosecutors will charge led the conspiracy to plan the deadly attacks.
“A punishment of death may be ordered executed only by the President,” according to the manual.
The president would also have the authority to “commute, remit, or suspend the sentence, or any part thereof, as he sees fit.”
But such a reprieve would be highly unlikely.
Obama has written that he backs the “ultimate punishment” in cases that are “heinous” and “beyond the pale.” (ANI)
- 9/11 Pakistani mastermind, 4 others sent for trial - Apr 05, 2012
- US charges five 9/11 terror suspects - Apr 05, 2012
- Pakistani mastermind of 9/11 charged again - Jun 01, 2011
- Al Qaeda's 9/11 mastermind killed Daniel Pearl: Report - Jan 20, 2011
- No 9/11 accused has gone to the gallows - Sep 10, 2011
- 9/11 attack mastermind on trial in Guantanamo - May 06, 2012
- Death sentence is judicial murder, says judge in Rajiv killing - Oct 16, 2011
- Obama defends plans to close Guantanamo - Sep 11, 2010
- Obama admits deadline for closing Guantanamo will be missed - Nov 19, 2009
- US prosecutors file fresh charges against 9/11 suspects - Jun 01, 2011
- 'China committed to limiting death penalty' - Mar 09, 2012
- China for caution over death penalty - May 25, 2011
- Obama orders resumption of Guantanamo trials - Mar 08, 2011
- After Kasab ruling, rights activists oppose death penalty - May 06, 2010
- Pakistani-American pleads guilty to terror charges - Mar 01, 2012
Tags: barack obama, conspiracy, death penalty, death warrant, guantanamo bay, lawmakers, mastermind, military commissions, military court, military officers, military tribunal, new york post, proceeding, prosecutors, remit, reprieve, sentences, september 11 victims, sheik mohammed, ultimate authority