Pentagon officials announced plans to livestream the firing squad execution of Nidal Malik Hasan, a former Army psychiatrist convicted of the 2009 Fort Hood shooting. The execution, scheduled for December 3, faces strong opposition from lawmakers across party lines.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has authorized the public execution, which would mark the first such event in the U.S. in over 90 years. The method of execution could be appealed, and Hasan’s case has drawn criticism for potential public spectacle.
Lawmakers, including both Democrats and some Republicans, have condemned the plan, calling it a mockery of the legal system and a violation of American values. Supporters of the administration argue that Hasan, a radicalized extremist, deserves a public trial.
The execution would be the first public execution in the U.S. since the 1930s, joining a list of countries that conduct public executions, including Iran and Afghanistan, according to Amnesty International.