Pentagon officials announced plans to livestream the execution of Nidal Hasan, a former Army psychiatrist convicted of a 2009 mass shooting, sparking bipartisan criticism. The execution, scheduled for December 3, would be the first public execution in the U.S. in 90 years and the first by firing squad in 80 years.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has authorized the public execution, which could be appealed, and has stated it will occur at the same location as the 2009 shooting. Lawmakers from both parties have condemned the plan, with Democrats calling it a mockery of the legal system and Republicans expressing concern over the spectacle.
The move has drawn comparisons to public executions in Iran and Afghanistan, where such practices are common. Experts warn that livestreaming executions could normalize the practice and undermine the rule of law. The execution could delay for years due to potential appeals.
The planned execution has sparked debate over the role of public executions in the U.S., with critics arguing it reflects a decline in societal standards and a shift towards spectacle over justice.