The U.S. government earlier this year entered into the plea agreements with Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two other 9/11 suspects, sparing them the death penalty.

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.

The three-judge decision appeared, at least for now, to put plea proceedings for Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and two others back on track to take place in early January at Guantánamo Bay.

According to ABC News, the military appeals court ruled on Monday night that Mr. Austin had no authority to nullify the plea agreements, which will allow the three men to avoid the death penalty for their alleged crimes.

A Pentagon appeals court on Monday ruled that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin overstepped when he revoked a plea deal that prosecutors reached with 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. Why it matters: After months of back and forth over the plea agreement,