Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth plans to livestream the execution of Nidal Hasan, the 2009 Fort Hood shooter, sparking bipartisan criticism. The execution, scheduled for Dec 3, could be the first public execution in U.S. since 1959.
Hegseth has authorized the firing squad method, which could be appealed, and confirmed the execution will be public and streamed. Critics argue it undermines the rule of law and mirrors practices of oppressive regimes. Democrats and some Republicans have condemned the move as a spectacle.
The planned execution would mark the first public execution in the U.S. in decades, drawing comparisons to Iran and Afghanistan's use of public executions. Legal experts warn such spectacles can be used to cow populations and radicalize enemies.
Hegseth's decision faces backlash from lawmakers who argue it gives the shooter a platform, while supporters defend it as justice. The execution's method and public nature remain contentious, with potential for legal appeals and delays.