The last treason case tried in the U.S. was that of Hans Max Haupt in 1947. Hans was a naturalized citizen originally from Germany. He was tried for aiding and abetting his son who was a German spy. Hans Max was sentenced to life imprisonment and a fine of $10,000.
The son, Herbert Hans Haupt, had been recruited by the Germans to serve as a saboteur. He and has colleagues were to blow up U.S. factories that supplied the war effort, a mission known as Operation Pastorius. There were 7 "U-boat Raiders” in total.
Hans Haupt the younger was tried and convicted of treason by military tribunal and executed in the Electric chair along with 4 of the other 6 conspirators on August 8, 1942 in the District of Columbia. It was the largest mass execution by electrocution ever conducted. The other 2 were given lesser sentences and deported.
We are now preparing to try another American, Adam Yedihe Gadahn, for appearing in Al Qaeda propaganda videos, including one in which he declared, "America's streets will run red with blood." He isn’t in custody and the timing of this is rather interesting, right before an election. You mean they don’t have another Al Qaeda number 2 to trot out for us? What a bummer.
I don’t think this Administration should be so quick to start using treason trials. That photo might come back to haunt them.
Article III Section 3 of the Constitution of the United States of America
Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.
The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.
Article II, Section 4
The President, Vice President and all Civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.
By turning Iraq in to the new Al Qaeda base as well as by threatening the stability of the region, this Administration as aided the enemy. By violating international treaties, such as the Geneva Conventions and the U.N Charter, and by abrogating the U.S. Constitution on multiple fronts, this Administration has proven its hostility to the rules and laws of the United States of America and its people. They have violated their oaths of office and appointment by failing to uphold the Constitution.
Again I say, impeachment first, treason next.
9 comments:
If the government thinks that mere speech constitutes "aid and comfort", that's a totally right-wing squashing of all dissent. A video is not treason. These are the same people who wanted to try Jane Fonda for treason.
// posted by LTG
What about the Tokyo Rose case? She was a US citizen and as I recall was convicted of treason. She was later pardoned but not in a way that said what she was alledged to have done was not treason. This guy, who's real name is Adam Perlman , is a lot like Tokyo Rose who ever she was.
Peresonally, I'm not sure that this guy hasn't committed treason. We know from his own widely circulated videos that he is effectively a propoganda ministry official for Al Qaeda and advocates not just dissent but the violent overthrow of the American government. LTG, hasn't there has always been a distinction made between protected speech and speech calling for violent overthrow of the government.
Besides, this approach - chraging people with treason in the civil court system is what the Bush administration SHOULD have done with Padilla. This is an improvement and puts the decision about whether he's committed treason exactly where it belongs, in the courts!
Should he get his day in court to defend himself with a lawyer etc? YES! Should we presume his innocence until the government can prove otherwise? YES! But that doesn't mean we should object to his even being charged.
// posted by RBR
I agree with RBR that Padilla should have been tried this way as well as John Walker Lindh. What worries me about this charge is that he was a propoganda guy, not a shoe bomber. YOu can say many things about the U.S. government. YOu may wish for its overthrow. But until there is an action taken I am not sure you have cause. I think this is LTG's concern.
I will let my opinion develop along with the story, as more "facts" come out. Either we don't have all of them yet, or the media is spinning in funny.
BTW: two Simpson's references. All hail!
// posted by USWest
Treason seems a reasonable charge to me. If he had merely appeared in a video and done nothing else, then I think treason would be inappropriate, but from what I understand, he lives and works with Al-Qaeda members.
Of course, the only reason this is coming to trial now is because of the election. They don't even have him in custody. What a cheap stunt. So typical of this administration.
Stories like the one's told here is why I am very skeptical of this particular "treason" case. How much of the "evidence" is true and accurate against this guy? I think this case is all a joke, like so many others.
That said, I still think using cival law is the correct way to handle terrorism cases. And I think that treason is a fair thing to look at. I am skeptical of this particular case.
// posted by USWest
Certainly, this administration has earned our skepticism about nearly everything they do.
// posted by RBR
Any elected civil official, in this case, George W. Bush, who says that the US Constitution is "just a goddamned piece of paper", should be removed from office immeadiately. But no, we worry about flag burning. The President is supposed to protect the constitution and act in the best interest of the public. He has done none of these things and it has been on display on the global stage....no trial for teason needed, just throw him in jail as an enemy combatant in Cuba or one of the CIA's secret prisons. I think what really may bother US West about the current treason allegations of this patsy (and he may be guilty), if I can type words in US West's mouth, is the hypocracy of it all. We really have no laws if everyone at the highest levels are above the law and to have these treasonist bastards put someone else on trial for treason, it is just infuriating. Bush and his people do not beleive in democracy, communisim, socialism...there is nothing they respect except a dollar. They are conducting business and the way they do it is to kill the people, destroy the property and take the money. It is really quite clear...we haven't had this kind of clarity since WWII.
Peace!
// posted by The King
Yes, a big part of what bugs me is the hyprocracy. And the scary part for me is that these guys (the Administration) don't even see it, either that or they ignore it. But I tend to think that they flat out don't see it and if you were to point it out to them, you'd be next in line for your strip down at Git-mo.
// posted by USWest
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