The Biden administration has doubled down on its unusual court battle to derail a plea deal that the government itself had reached with accused 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.

After 23 years, the fate of the last remaining Guantanamo detainees swept up worldwide after al-Qaida’s shattering attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, is reaching a pivotal moment this month.

A military appeals court has ruled against Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's effort to throw out the plea deals reached for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two other defendants in the 9/11 attacks.