Austin Resident Sues to Block Livestream of Nidal Hasan Execution

A lawsuit is filed in Texas to stop the televised execution of Fort Hood terrorist Nidal Hasan.

Legal Action Filed to Stop Defense Department’s Proposed Execution Broadcast

A federal court in Austin has received a complaint from a local "unnamed" resident who wants to block U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s proposal to broadcast a military execution over the internet. Under the proposal, former Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan, convicted of the 2009 Fort Hood Islamic attack that left 13 people dead, would face a firing squad. If carried out, this would mark the military's first use of a firing squad since the Second World War.

Read More: Nidal Hasan Execution Scheduled At Fort Hood This December 

The President and the Vice President's Thoughts on a Public Execution

While President Trump has expressed support for both the execution itself and the chosen method, he has not explicitly authorized a public online stream of the event. Vice President J.D. Vance expressed skepticism about whether a live video broadcast would ultimately occur, adding that he would personally would not watch it.

The Plaintiff's Argument for Stopping a Livestream

In Tuesday's filing, the plaintiff claimed that a public broadcast would inflict mental anguish, psychological stress, and lasting trauma. The lawsuit stresses that even if an individual chooses not to view the initial broadcast, preventing exposure to subsequent online clips would be virtually impossible.

The Lawsuit Requests an Immediate Court Order

To prevent this outcome, the lawsuit requests an immediate court order prohibiting the Department of Defense from streaming or releasing any video recordings of the procedure. The lawsuit may be a waste of time. According to KXAN, Villanova University law professor Brenner Fissell said that non-parties likely lack the legal standing required to challenge the military's administrative plans.