Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, accused of orchestrating the U.S.S. Cole bombing, has signed a plea deal to avoid a death penalty trial, with details pending approval from military leadership.
Defendant in U.S.S. Cole Bombing Case Accepts Plea Agreement
Defendant in U.S.S. Cole Bombing Case Accepts Plea Agreement
Saudi national facing trial for 2000 bombing agrees to a plea offer to evade death sentence, awaiting Defense Secretary's decision.
A Saudi national implicated in the bomb attack on the U.S.S. Cole has agreed to a plea deal in a bid to evade the death penalty. Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, 60, signed the agreement, as confirmed by his attorney Allison F. Miller during initial proceedings of the war crimes case, which are expected to span two weeks.
Miller stated the atmosphere surrounding her Pentagon office is volatile, marred by concerns over possible budget cuts and staff reductions as they await clearance for the plea agreement to reach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. As it stands, this military commission case remains the longest-running death penalty case at Guantánamo Bay since al-Nashiri has been in U.S. custody since 2002.
The charges against al-Nashiri stem from an incident on October 12, 2000, when suicide bombers detonated explosives on a skiff near the U.S.S. Cole during the warship's refueling stop in Yemen. The violent attack led to the tragic deaths of 17 U.S. sailors, while leaving dozens more injured. During the court appearance, al-Nashiri maintained a quiet demeanor, at times fidgeting in his seat while his attorney detailed the plea agreement terms to the military tribunal.
