Explainer
Why is the Pentagon planning to livestream a firing squad execution?
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The deadly attack occurred at Fort Hood in 2009, and Hasan is now held on military death row at Fort Leavenworth, where he is scheduled to face a firing squad on 3 December.
Fort Hood and Fort Leavenworth
BBC reports that if it goes ahead as planned, this would be the first broadcast of an American execution. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the livestream, arguing, "We'll make sure that people are able to watch it, that it's public, because people need to understand that there's serious consequence for these types of things."
“We'll make sure that people are able to watch it, that it's public, because people need to understand that there's serious consequence for these types of things.”
The proposal sparked widespread backlash from both parties, with Republican Representative Austin Scott declaring, "I absolutely support the sentence of death, but livestreaming executions is what jihadists do. America is better than that."
“I absolutely support the sentence of death, but livestreaming executions is what jihadists do. America is better than that.”
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The story
Pentagon plans livestreamed firing squad execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal HasanRead the article
Based on reports by
- La Repubblica.itLive streaming execution, at least 60 soldiers refuse to shoot Hasan
- The New York TimesOpinion | A Public Execution Won't Distract From Pete Hegseth's Failures
- AxiosTikTok, Newsmax say they won't air possible livestreamed public execution
- The IndependentWoman whose brother died in Fort Hood attack condemns Hegseth's execution livestream
- Washington PostOpinion | Live-stream an execution? I wouldn't want that -- even for my daughter's killer.
- AxiosHegseth wants a livestream execution. Here's how firing squads work