A woman whose husband died in the 9/11 attacks slammed the Biden administration at Ground Zero on Wednesday.

Joan Barbara, whose husband is a firefighter Jerry President Obama, who was killed on the day the South Tower collapsed, strongly criticized the administration's attempts to reach plea deals with three suspects, including the alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who is being held in Guantanamo Bay, to spare the defendants the death penalty. After news of the plea deals broke and many of the families of 9/11 victims were outraged, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin intervened and ultimately reversed the deals.

“And my husband, [New York City Fire Department] “Chief Gerald A. Barbara. My husband, Jerry, is a Navy veteran and served with the New York City Fire Department for 31 years. On September 11, 2001, radical Islamic terrorists murdered 2,977 innocent people, including my husband of 30 years,” Chief Barbara said at a ceremony in New York City on Wednesday marking the 23rd anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. “It is outrageous that our government would even consider granting plea bargains to terrorists. Without the outcry from the 9/11 community, who knows what would have happened.” (Related article: Biden administration distances itself from plea deals with 9/11 terrorists)

“It's been 23 years, and the families deserve justice and accountability,” she continued, as bystanders applauded. “The elected officials here today pay tribute and respect to the families of September 11th. To borrow the president's words, 'doing 9/11,' which is a pretty flippant statement. But let's not forget that the families of September 11th experience it every day, not just on the anniversary. Finally, God bless those who are fighting the sickness after September 11th, our first responders and our military, both here and abroad. God bless America, and never forget.”

In her statement, Barbara said: comment President Joe Biden told reporters in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday night that he would “do 9/11” on Wednesday, apparently meaning to convey that he plans to attend a memorial ceremony at Ground Zero the following day.

Prominent officials attending Wednesday's memorial in New York City included former President Donald Trump, Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and New York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochle.

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