Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed Wednesday that the U.S. military intends to livestream the Dec. 3 firing squad execution of Nidal Malik Hasan, the former Army major convicted of the 2009 mass shooting at Fort Hood. The decision to make the execution public has drawn criticism from Utah Senator John Curtis, who urged Hegseth to reconsider the plan, arguing that broadcasting a death diminishes the solemnity of justice.
Public Execution Plans Confirmed
The execution of the 56-year-old Hasan is scheduled for Dec. 3 at Fort Hood, according to Hegseth. Speaking from the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, Hegseth told podcaster Jack Posobiec that the military will ensure the event is public so that people understand the "serious consequences" of such actions. When asked if Hasan had made any final requests to the administration, Hegseth responded, "Don't care. We'll see him on December 3rd."
Presidential Approval and Method
The Pentagon announced Monday that President Donald Trump approved a recommendation by Hegseth to execute Hasan via a U.S. Army firing squad. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell stated on X that "judgement day for Hasan has finally come," noting that the Secretary of the Army will determine the specific time and location of the event. Hegseth responded to the announcement with the single word, "Justice."
A Historic Military Execution
The planned execution marks the first military execution by firing squad since the end of World War II. The last military execution occurred on April 13, 1961, when Army Pvt. John A. Bennett was hanged for the rape and attempted murder of a girl in Austria. Hasan is currently one of four individuals on the U.S. military's death row.
Curtis Urges Rethink
Senator John Curtis (R, 3rd District) criticized the decision to livestream the execution in a post on X on Friday, Oct. 10. Curtis compared the plan to the bloody spectacles of ancient Rome, stating, "A civilization erodes when it cultivates an appetite for executions as a form of entertainment." He argued that broadcasting the death of the former doctor diminishes the gravity of the proceedings and urged the Secretary to reconsider the approach.
Legal and Regulatory Challenges
Legal experts have raised questions regarding the legality of a public livestream. Currently, Army Regulation 190–55, which governs military execution procedures, does not explicitly permit livestreaming and includes restrictions on witnesses that could hinder a public broadcast. Legal experts noted that the Army would likely need to seek an exemption from the Office of the Provost Marshal General or amend existing regulations to facilitate a livestream. Additionally, Hasan's defense team could potentially file a habeas corpus petition in civilian court, which could delay the execution and challenge whether the livestream constitutes "cruel and unusual punishment" under the Eighth Amendment.
Background of the 2009 Attack
Hasan was convicted in 2013 by a general court-martial for the Nov. 5, 2009, shooting spree at Fort Hood's Soldier Readiness Processing Center. During the attack, Hasan killed 13 people—including 12 soldiers and one civilian employee—and wounded 32 others. While serving as a psychiatrist, Hasan shouted "Allahu akbar" during the attack and later claimed in court he was acting to defend the Taliban leadership in Afghanistan.
