[cnn]$1 million for arrest of American al Qaeda charged with treason

If they have him on tape doing these things, wouldn't that be enough evidence? As long as they can prove that it is him, etc and meet the witness requirement and all.

It sounds like treason to me, but I don't know what all has to be proven from a legal standpoint.

 

Maybe it is treason, but I don't see why we're bothering with him (political considerations aside). I don't see him having much of any propagandist effect and he hasn't actually done anything besides talk. Certainly, they should not be considering the death penalty for something like that. The double-agent who was giving secrets to the Russians for a couple of decades didn't get the death penalty.

 

Obviously, it is a serious charge and that is why you have to meet the 2 witnesses requirement and all.

If someone is guilty of treason they should be charged and convicted. I'm all for the conviction of people who betray our nation and are guilty of treason. Treason is in the constitution for a reason and as long as all the requirements are met then those who are gulity of treason should be convicted.

My point is, no matter which party you are, I'd think that people would be in favor of convicting those guilty of treason.

 

Tinman stop, you just made Levar cry.

 

Don't like to respond to my own quote, but just to be clear.

I'd think the video is evidence enough that he was involved in propaganda as long as you can prove that it is him in the video and he wasn't forced, etc.

However, with a treason charge you have to have the two witnesses.

What would they actually have to witness... would they have to be there when the actual video was made... or just have witnesses that can confirm it is him in the video or what? Is the quote below saying that you just have to have witnesses confirm that it is him? Or would they actually have to have people that witnessed the videos being made?

 

Tape is not enough. From the Greenwald piece...

Like I said, I think this is a low bar for treason (not that he isn't a loser and has committed other crimes). I just don't like the idea of this administration throwing a treason charge against someone for what they said. If there's more to it, fine, go with it... but treason is a very serious charge and I absolutely do not trust this administration not to use something that would previously have not risen to treason as a precedent.

Again, from Greenwald...

 

I guess what I'm asking is.. if having someone that knows him.. identify him as the one in the video is a witness or would they actually have to see him make the video and see him not be forced, etc.

If they have the proof needed under the constitution then I hope he is tried and punished (if found guilty).

 

rimrocker...

I haven't really studied treason, so I don't know what the courts have decided in the past.

Based on this link (section 3 at the very end) http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.articleiii.html , I could see how this would be treason. Since you could say this is adhering to our enemies. Based on that, I think it makes sense to charge him.

Obviously, this is a very serious charge so you'd have to prove it and everything. I'd imagine it'd probably end up in the Surpreme Court maybe?

 

That being said, I'm obviously in favor of following the constitution and making sure he is convicted with witnesses, etc.

His acts seem like treason, but of course you have to follow the constitution and everything. Treason is a serious offense. Without the evidence and knowledge of what witnesses, etc they have.. it is hard to say if he is likely to be convicted. They may have witnesses.