The families of 9/11 victims and congressional lawmakers praised Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin for doing “the right thing” on Friday by revoking plea deals that would’ve spared three accused plotters of the terrorist attacks the death penalty.
They now want justice and for a trial date to be set “immediately.”
“Thank God!” Kathy Vigiano, the widow of NYPD Detective Joseph Vigiano, who was among the nearly 3,000 people killed on Sept. 11, 2001, told The Post when she learned of the scrapped plea deals for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed — the accused mastermind of the al Qaeda attacks — and his two alleged helpers, Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarak Bin Attash and Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawsawi.
Joseph Vigiano’s brother, FDNY firefighter John Viagiano, was also killed responding to the attack on the World Trade Center.
Kathy Vigiano, a retired cop, said her family is “pleased that Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin rescinded the inappropriate plea deal” and that they “hope that long-overdue justice will be served for our family and others who have suffered.”
Patty Coughlin, widow of NYPD Emergency Services Unit Sgt. John Coughlin, said the three men, who have been held at the Guantanamo Bay detention facility in Cuba since 2003, deserve “the most severe punishment.”
“They have been catered to and abused our system for over 20 years,” Coughlin told The Post. ”It is past time they go on trial.”
“Justice has to be served.”
Sally Regenhard told The Post that Austin’s shocking reversal “serves to restore our faith in the justice system of this country.”
Her son, Christian Regenhard, was one of 343 firefighters killed on 9/11.
“I and my colleagues, which include FDNY members, would like to thank Mr. Austin and the Biden administration for this just and honorable decision,” Regenhard said, noting that she was “devastated and angered” by the Biden administration’s initial decision to offer the accused terrorists plea deals.
Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) similarly praised Austin but echoed the point of 9/11 family members that justice has been long overdue.
“While we’re pleased to hear that Secretary Austin has withdrawn this unacceptable plea deal, the fact remains that it has been 23 years since the worst terrorist attack on American soil and the families of 9/11 victims, the first responders still suffering and dying today, and all Americans, deserve justice,” Malliotakis told The Post.
“That begins with pursuing the death penalty and immediately setting a trial date so these terrorist monsters can be held accountable for their crimes against humanity,” she added.
The congresswoman also teased that she plans to “stand with 9/11 families, first responders and police unions on Monday to demand that the Biden-Harris Administration take action to see that justice is finally served.”
Another Empire State House lawmaker said the accused terrorists should “expect no mercy.”
“Grateful to see that Austin made the right decision, in response to calls from myself & colleagues,” Rep. Brandon Williams (R-NY) wrote on X. “Failing to hold these terrorists accountable for the atrocities they committed would be an insult to victims families, & it would send the wrong message to our enemies.”
“We don’t negotiate with terrorists — you come after America and harm our citizens — expect no mercy,” he added.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), the ranking member on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Austin’s decision to assume control of the Convening Authority for Military Commissions and withdraw the pre-trial agreements was “the right thing.”
“I firmly believe that Secretary Austin did the right thing and exercised good command judgement by revoking the plea deal for the 9/11 mastermind and his accomplices,” the South Carolina Republican wrote on X. “The previous plea deal would have sent absolutely the wrong signal to terrorists throughout the world.”
“I know the families of the victims of the 9/11 attacks will appreciate this — as do I,” he added.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) suggested that pressure applied on the Biden administration by the House Oversight and Armed Services committees may have contributed to the reversal.
“The Biden-Harris Administration is correct to reverse course after receiving letters from @GOPoversight and @HASCRepublicans launching investigations into this terrible plea deal,” Johnson wrote on X.
“Now deliver long awaited justice for 9/11 families,” he added.
