[wildbill]

The curious thing is that none of the other, more damaging spies like Aldrich Ames, Robert Hansen, etc. have faced the death penalty. Why this guy? Why not them?

Is he just some poor schmoe who the governmment plans to use as an example because he can't be used later to trade for one of our spies?

I favor death to traitors--but not selection or favoritism.

[weegee]

I agree that it is surprising that the death penalty isn't used more in espionage cases (or with traitors and saboteurs).

Even some nations that claim to outlaw the death penalty reserve its use for such matters.

[weegee]

Consider too that Tim McVeigh got the death penalty but the 1993 WTC bombers did not (and they lived to see their goal accomplished and may have passed along information to other agents through their attorney) and neither did the self-confessed unrepentant shoe bomber.