The Biden administration succeeded in blocking a plea deal for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed on Thursday after a federal court issued an administrative stay of a hearing set for Friday.
The alleged 9/11 mastermind was expected to plead guilty as part of an agreement worked out by military prosecutors that would have removed the death penalty as a possibility in his case.
“The purpose of this administrative stay is to allow the court time to receive full briefing on the mandamus petition, to hear oral argument on an expedited basis, and to render a decision on the petition and stay motion,” the order from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit said.
“The administrative stay should not be construed in any way as a ruling on the merits of that petition or motion.”
The order set deadlines for legal documents to be filed by Jan. 22, meaning the legal case will carry into the first days of the Trump administration.
On Tuesday, the Biden administration petitioned the federal court seeking a stay of the plea agreement for Mohammed and two other alleged 9/11 plotters that has been opposed by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.