9/11 defendants reach plea deal with Defense Department in Saudi Arabia lawsuit
NEW YORK CITY - The Department of Defense announced that plea deals have been reached for three men and their roles in the 9/11 highjackings.
The Convening Authority for Military Commissions said it has entered pretrial agreements with Khalid Shaikh Mohammad, Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarak Bin 'Attash, and Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawsawi.
However, the details of the plea agreement are not publicly available for the time being.
"This is a monumental day for us" says Brett Eagleson the President of 9/11 Justice. His father was killed at the Twin Towers.
Hundreds of 9/11 families are waiting for this critical hearing today to present some of their evidence they have gathered over the past 23 years they say links Saudi Arabia's government to the 9/11 attacks.
The evidence collected by former FBI and other intelligence officials.
The families detailing what was unveiled during the seven-hour long hearing in federal court. Eagleson "There were over 30 Saudi government officials who are now implicated with helping the hijackers. These Saudi government officials were tasked from higher up to facilitate, provide logistical support, sign leases and provide money for bank accounts."
There were 19 terrorists who carried out the 9/11 attacks. 15 of them were from Saudi Arabia. 9/11 families say evidence presented in court connects a Saudi national by the name of Omar Al-Bayoumi to the terrorists. Eagleson "We've learned significant new revelations today in that the Saudi intelligence operative, Omar Al-Bayoumi, was receiving instructions and was coordinating with two senior members of the Saudi government."
Saudi Arabia has denied any involvement in the terror attacks. It tried to have the case dismissed once before but failed.
Dennis McGinley is a 9/11 family member. "The 9/11 families, we've been through enough. We need to end this cat and mouse game. Finally, help us get the justice, the accountability, the transparency that not only we need, but that America needs."
If the judge rules against the families, they say they will appeal.
Who are the defendants?
The three defendants, along with Ali Abdul Aziz Ali and Ramzi Bin al Shibh, were first charged and arraigned in June 2008. They were then charged and arraigned in May 2012 for their roles in the September 11 highjackings against the U.S.
Members of 9/11 Justice – an organization comprising families of the victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks – held a news conference on Wednesday morning ahead of a hearing regarding Saudi Arabia's attempt to dismiss a lawsuit alleging their involvement in the attacks.
The hearing seeks to determine Saudi Arabia's legal responsibility and accountability for the events.
The hearing follows years of advocacy and legal battles by the victims' families in their ongoing quest for justice and transparency.
FOX News Digital contributed to this report.