The US Army may carry out death sentences against former military personnel for the first time in more than half a century. Execution of four people on death row may take place if the initiative is approved by US President Donald Trump. Representatives of the Army reported the plans to the Task & Purpose portal.
The Army's plan to execute Americans sentenced to death for murder and rape was called Operation Resolute Justice. It involves transporting inmates from the prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, to the federal execution center in Terre Haute, Indiana, where all federal executions have taken place since 2001.
Last month, the US Department of Justice lifted a moratorium on federal executions and approved execution by firing squad as a method of execution. The department also simplified internal procedures to expedite the processing of death penalty cases. There is no information about how former military personnel can be executed.
As ABC News clarifies, the internal plan directs several units of the US Army to prepare and enforce the order no later than 150 days after its approval by the president. The document contains schedules for coordination meetings and the procedure for action in the event of receiving a corresponding order from the White House. In addition, it provides for measures to interact with the media.
“Exercises on this operation have been conducted on a regular basis over the past 20 years. This training is a standard part of our ongoing planning and preparation in the event the President approves the death penalty. To date, the President has taken no action against the three inmates whose death sentences have not yet been confirmed by the President,” Army spokeswoman Cynthia Smith said.
Last September, US Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said he would seek the death penalty against Nidal Hassan, convicted of the 2009 Fort Hood massacre. Then, through his fault, 13 people died and 32 were injured.
“I am one hundred percent committed to ensuring that Nidal Hassan's death sentence is carried out. The victims and survivors deserve justice without further delay,” Hegseth said.
Another prisoner is former army sergeant Hasan Akbar, convicted of a grenade and small arms attack at Camp Pennsylvania in Kuwait in 2003. The attack killed a US Army captain and an Air Force major, and injured 14 others. In May, Defense Secretary Hegseth awarded injured veterans Purple Hearts.
The longest-running case on military death row involves former soldier Ronald Gray. In 1988, a military court found him guilty of 14 counts, including premeditated murder, attempted murder and rape of three women, two of whom were military personnel. In 2008, US President George W. Bush signed an order to carry out the death sentence, but the decision was challenged in federal court. In 2016, the court lifted the ban, and in 2017, the military court rejected the last appeal.
The fourth person involved is former Master Sergeant Timothy Hennis. In 1985, a North Carolina jury convicted him of killing a woman and two children while serving at Fort Bragg. The state Supreme Court later overturned the conviction because repeatedly showing photographs of the victims could have influenced the jury. In 1989, Hennis was acquitted, but was subsequently brought back to trial under military justice.
From 1916 to 1961, the US Army carried out 135 death sentences. Although military courts can still impose capital punishment, the last execution was carried out in 1961. Then US Army Private John Bennett, a 19-year-old soldier, was hanged for the rape and attempted murder of an 11-year-old girl.
