'The plea deals are the only path to resolution.' Daughter of 9/11 victim supports prison sentence for attackers
Elizabeth Miller was just 6 years old when her father, Douglas Miller, made the ultimate sacrifice as an FDNY firefighter.
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An Orange County woman who is the daughter of a 9/11 victim is supporting a proposed plea deal that would take the death penalty off the table for those behind the attack.
Elizabeth Miller was just 6 years old when her father, Douglas Miller, made the ultimate sacrifice as an FDNY firefighter.
Miller visited Guantanamo Bay three times over the past decade to attend hearings for the five 9/11 defendants imprisoned there. From her visits, Miller says she has concluded that "the military commission system is truly failing the victims' family members."
That's one reason why she and other children of 9/11 victims sent a letter to President Joe Biden last year advocating for a plea deal that could result in lengthy life sentences instead of the death penalty. Just last week, the Pentagon sent letters to family members of the victims asking for their input.
"The plea deals are the only path to any resolution in this case," says Miller.
She also supports the plea deal because if the death penalty is pursued, the defendants could appeal a conviction further drawing out the proceedings. In addition, she says the plea deal would also include a stipulation of facts and allow victims' family members an opportunity to ask the defendants questions.
"It will give us an opportunity to get the answers to the questions that I've been looking for, for over 22 years, and I think that speaks volumes for family members because with answers comes some healing," says Miller.
The prosecution of the five defendants has been delayed mainly because of legal issues surrounding the CIA's interrogation of the suspects.
"Because the country decided to torture these men, it took away any sense of justice I will ever get, and that is very frustrating to me," says Miller.
Miller says she understands that not all victims' family members agree with her stance but feels this is the closest to justice as she can get.
If a plea deal is approved, there's a law in place that would prevent the defendants transfer to U.S. soil. That means the Guantanamo prison would stay open indefinitely.
