Vance questions whether Fort Hood execution livestream will happen

US Vice President JD Vance said on October 9 that he was unsure a livestream of Nidal Malik Hasan’s execution would go ahead and would not watch it, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

The Pentagon had announced plans to broadcast the former Army psychiatrist’s execution by firing squad. It is scheduled for December 3 at Fort Hood and, if carried out, would be the first US military execution in more than 65 years.

Hasan was convicted over the November 5, 2009, shooting at the military base that killed 13 people and wounded 32. Representing himself at his 2013 trial, he admitted being the gunman. His defence called no witnesses and delivered no closing argument, while the prosecution presented nearly 90 witnesses.

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the execution would be public, and Pentagon officials clarified that it would be livestreamed. Yale Law School’s Eugene R. Fidell said a habeas corpus petition in civilian court could substantially delay the execution.

Death penalty specialists differ over broadcasting it. Fordham University’s Deborah Denno sees potential for greater transparency. UC Berkeley Law’s Elisabeth Semel raised questions about the condemned prisoner’s dignity, who could watch and the government’s motives. Villanova Law’s Brenner Fissell linked the choice of firing squad to the image of military force he believes Hegseth seeks to emphasise.

The debate follows an unsuccessful execution attempt involving Christa Pike in Tennessee. The newspaper reported that the 50-year-old survived two doses of pentobarbital. Her lawyers said she had resumed eating and walking with assistance after regaining consciousness.

A separate dispute concerns Hasan’s access to legal assistance. John Galligan, an attorney working with him on civil matters, said a chaplain but no defence lawyer was present when Hasan was notified that the execution had been approved. An Army spokeswoman said officials had repeatedly tried to contact lawyers and followed policy.

The newspaper also noted that Donald Trump, who approved Hasan’s execution, had criticised threats to execute Iranian protesters. On January 14 and 20, he said those executions were stopping, later claiming Washington had prevented hangings by threatening force. The White House referred questions about the Hasan broadcast to the Pentagon.