Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, implicated in the 2000 USS Cole attack that led to the deaths of 17 U.S. sailors, has tentatively accepted a guilty plea bargain to avoid capital punishment, pending approval from the Defense Secretary.
Saudi Bombing Defendant Accepts Plea Deal to Avoid Death Penalty
Saudi Bombing Defendant Accepts Plea Deal to Avoid Death Penalty
A Saudi prisoner charged in the infamous USS Cole bombing agrees to a plea bargain, subject to governmental review.
Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, a Saudi national accused of orchestrating the 2000 USS Cole bombing in Yemen, is now in discussions to plead guilty to his charges in hopes of evading the threat of the death penalty. His attorney, Allison F. Miller, revealed the plea negotiations during the commencement of a lengthy hearing at Guantánamo Bay. Facing potential budget cuts and a tumultuous atmosphere at her workplace, Miller noted the offer must still be reviewed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth before it can be finalized.
Al-Nashiri, who has been detained in U.S. custody since 2002, is a central figure in what is regarded as the longest-running death penalty case at the Guantánamo facility. The attack on the USS Cole involved two suicide bombers who detonated a bomb-planted skiff beside the naval ship, resulting in the deaths of 17 sailors and injuring many more. During the hearing, al-Nashiri maintained a composed demeanor, sitting quietly with his legal team while his attorney outlined the terms of the plea agreement currently in consideration.
