The Pentagon plans to broadcast the upcoming execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan live on the internet. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the decision, marking a dramatic shift in how the US military handles capital punishment. Hasan, a former Army psychiatrist, is scheduled to face a firing squad on December 3 for the 2009 rampage that left 13 unarmed soldiers dead.
A Century-Old Precedent Broken?
If the plan goes through, it will be the first public execution in America in nearly a century. But legal experts are already raising red flags. John Mills, a defense attorney who works with death row inmates, called the move completely unprecedented. He believes the plan rests on shaky legal ground. Mills also pointed out that Hasan's appeals are not finished, meaning a federal court will likely step in and halt the execution before December.
"Seeking to make it livestreamed, a firing squad execution, is little more than attention-seeking by the Trump administration and is unlikely to occur, much less deliver any semblance of justice," Mills said.
Fierce Backlash and Global Reactions
The announcement has sparked fierce blowback. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy condemned the idea, calling it "disgusting" and comparing it to the propaganda videos produced by ISIS. Meanwhile, the United Nations human rights office warned that broadcasting the execution to the public violates the international ban on torture.
President Donald Trump has reportedly signed off on the execution. When asked if Hasan had requested any final favors or tried to contact the president, Hegseth shrugged it off. "Don't care," the defense chief said during an interview with Real America's Voice. "We'll see him on December 3rd." Hegseth insisted that a firing squad made up of active soldiers is exactly what Hasan deserves.
Survivors Have Mixed Feelings
For those who survived the 2009 shooting, the news brings mixed emotions. Alonzo Lunsford was shot seven times during Hasan's rampage. He supports the firing squad, but he has doubts about streaming it to the world. Lunsford worries about young people watching it online. Still, he wants those directly harmed by the tragedy to have access.
"As far as the families of the fallen and the families of the survivors, and the survivors themselves, yes, I think we should be able to look at it uncensored," Lunsford said. He plans to be there in person, hoping to look Hasan in the eyes right before the shots are fired. "I want him to know he failed. I'm still here."
Uncharted Legal Waters
Public executions are incredibly rare globally. Last year, only Iran and Afghanistan were known to have carried them out in public. While some US states require witnesses or local reporters to watch executions, a live digital stream has never been done.
Fordham University law professor Deborah Denno, who studies execution methods, said a livestream would force an unprecedented level of transparency on the death penalty. But whether the broadcast ever actually happens remains a major question.