Pentagon plans public livestream of its first firing squad execution in decades

CNN, The Independent and NBC News report that the Pentagon will livestream the December 3 firing squad execution of Nidal Hasan, the former Army psychiatrist sentenced to death for the 2009 Fort Hood shooting that killed 13 people. It would be the first Army execution of this kind since World War II, and the plan has already drawn criticism from both parties, according to CNN · NBC News.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, whose recommendation President Donald Trump approved, chose 1 p.m. at Fort Hood, the hour of the attack. CNN and The Independent say he made the remarks to commentator Jack Posobiec; NBC News says the outlet was Real America's Voice. A Defense Department official confirmed the stream, though NBC News says no platform has been named. Asked about any final requests from Hasan, Hegseth replied, "Don't care," according to both The Independent and NBC News.

CNN reports that Republican Sen. Thom Tillis called the plan "beyond disgusting," while Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy asked whether Hegseth was mimicking ISIS executions. CNN adds that Army rules restrict who may watch, though a waiver is possible.

Summarized by PolitiKool from CNN · NBC News, The Independent and NBC News’s reporting. Read the full story at CNN · NBC News → Also at The Independent → Also at NBC News →