I've heard that before, and I've doubted it, so I decided to do some research. Here are the results:
To being with I did not believe that the US Code stipulates different methods of execution for different types of crime, given they are punishable by the death penalty. My recollection was that you get whatever the "method du jour" is. I began by looking up Treason in the US Code. Indeed, it does not stipulate some specific method of execution. Here it is:
18 U.S. Code § 2381 - TreasonWhoever, owing allegiance to the United States, levies war against them or adheres to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort within the United States or elsewhere, is guilty of treason and shall suffer death, or shall be imprisoned not less than five years and fined under this title but not less than $10,000; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States.
The last spies executed by the USA were the Rosenbergs, here's how they got it according to Wikipedia:
The United States Federal Bureau of Prisons did not operate an electric chair when the Rosenbergs were sentenced to death. They were transferred to New York State's Sing Sing Correctional Facility in Ossining, New York, for execution. Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were electrocuted by executioner Joseph Francel at sundown on June 19, 1953.[41][42]The electric chair used at Sing Sing is one of several affectionately known as "Old Sparky".
Here is a picture of an inmate being strapped into Old Sparky at Sing Sing "sometime in the early 20th Century".
lovely!
I seriously doubt that anyone will ever be put to death by the USA for treason or espionage again. The Rosenburg brain-barbecue was 55 years ago. In the intervening time period the Supreme Court has scaled back use of the death penalty, imposing many new rules. No one under 18 may be executed, regardless of crime. People who are mentally retarded may not be executed. Rape is not a sufficiently evil crime to be executed for committing any longer. However "Killing a member of the Congress, the Cabinet or United States Supreme Court" is. Figures!
It turns out "cruel and unusual" is another simple phrase that the "living breathing" sort of justices can use for their nefarious purposes.
OK, so I think it's unlikely, but lets figure out if it is theoretically possible, under current law to hang a traitor in the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave.
More Wikipedia:
Capital punishment is a legal penalty under the United States federal government criminal justice system.It can be handed down for treason, espionage, murder, large-scale drug trafficking, or attempted murder of a witness, juror, or court officer in certain cases.
As of 2018, all inmates currently under federal death sentences were condemned for aggravated murder.
It seems most likely, therefore, that they would get lethal injection. Here's the details:
The federal government has a facility and regulations only for executions by lethal injection, but the United States Code allows U.S. Marshals to use state facilities and employees for federal executions.[21][22] Federal executions by lethal injection occur at United States Penitentiary, Terre Haute.[23]
Most States still provide for the death penalty, though its' fallen into disuse in many States run by libtards.
All 31 states with the death penalty provide lethal injection as the primary method of execution.Some states allow other methods than lethal injection, but only as secondary methods to be used merely at the request of the prisoner or if lethal injection is unavailable.[116][117]
And, the details on the "other methods"
All 31 states with the death penalty provide lethal injection as the primary method of execution. Some states allow other methods than lethal injection, but only as secondary methods to be used merely at the request of the prisoner or if lethal injection is unavailable.[116][117]Offender-selected methods
In the following states, death row inmates with an execution warrant may choose to be executed by:[116][117]
- Electrocution in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
- Gas inhalation in Arizona and California.
- Firing squad in Utah.
- Hanging in Washington.
Backup methods
Depending on the state, the following alternative methods are statutorily provided in the event that lethal injection is either found unconstitutional by a court or unavailable for practical reasons:[116][117][131]
The last executions by methods other than injection are as follows (all chosen by the inmate):
- Electrocution in Florida, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Tennessee.
- Gas inhalation in Alabama, California, Missouri,
- Oklahoma and Wyoming.
- Firing squad in Oklahoma and Utah.
- Hanging in New Hampshire.
Method Date State Inmate Electrocution January 16, 2013 Virginia Robert Gleason Firing squad June 18, 2010 Utah Ronnie Lee Gardner Lethal gas March 3, 1999 Arizona Walter LaGrand Hanging January 25, 1996 Delaware William Bailey
So it's unlikely, but technically not totally impossible that our current crop of traitors could be hung. It would require the US Marshals Service to select New Hampshire as the State to execute them in, and Lethal Injection to be unavailable (due to Tard lawsuit, no doubt), or to select Washington and the traitor to select "hanging" over lethal injection, a choice it appears was made by one fellow as recently as 1996.
That does leave the Q-favored "military tribunals" option. Let's take a look at that path. The last execution of anyone by a Military Tribunal was during WW2.
During World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered a military tribunal for eight German prisoners accused of espionage and planning sabotage in the United States as part of Operation Pastorius. Roosevelt's decision was challenged, but upheld, in Ex parte Quirin (1942). All eight of the accused were convicted and sentenced to death. Six were executed by electric chair at the District of Columbia jail on August 8, 1942. Two who had given evidence against the others had their sentences reduced by Roosevelt to prison terms. In 1948, they were released by President Harry S. Truman and deported to the American Zone of occupied Germany.
So even in the most recent case of pure spies being caught and tried by military commission, and executed they were not hung, but killed using the same method in use for common criminals at the time.
Of course, I doubt the District of Columbia jail has retained it's electric chair. So, maybe, just maybe, they will have to improvise a protocol for execution of the many traitors that some believe are about to be seized by "the white hats".
In which case the best guide might be this story by Matt Bracken, posted here at Western Rifle Shooters Association:
Braken:What I Saw At The Coup
CHEERS!